“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eph. 3:8-11
Devotional Thought For The Day
This is perhaps as good of a succinct explanation of God’s will and purpose for the church as we will find in Holy Scripture. Through the existence and life of the church “the manifold wisdom of God” is being made known “to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” What is referenced is all of the blessings, goodness, kindness, forgiveness, mercy, and grace of God in Christ Jesus. The life of the church displays, demonstrates, and advertises to all the world, all living beings, the power and goodness of God’s love, His gift of salvation. These riches are so great and massive that they are “unsearchable” – none of us can fully fathom and absorb them, at least not in this life of limited vision and wisdom [1 Cor. 13:12]. Still, it is our privilege as Christians, as congregations, to make known the wonders of God’s love in Christ Jesus.
The audience is not only our fellow human beings, but “the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” All of the angelic beings – both good and evil – are now under Christ’s authority and power [Eph. 1:20-23], although individual Christians and the church continue to “wrestle” against the evil angelic beings. [Eph. 6:12] And though there is real and genuine warfare, and though the church is never perfect and never without sin and shame, still God pours the riches of His gracious love into the hearts of His dear people of faith – through His Word and His Sacramental meal, so that by the continuous experience of His great love for us His people continue to grow in love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, meekness, and humility. All of this is part of the fulfillment of His eternal purpose, “realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.” To God alone be the glory!
But what if the church fails to live in the light, fails to focus on the gracious mercy and cleansing of sin that Christ has accomplished, and becomes instead a “do-gooders” club, a fellowship of spiritual snobbery and arrogance? If this happens to a congregation, or to some institutional structure called a “church,” it is certain that it has ceased being the church of Christ. The same is true of those institutional forms of “church” that rationalize and justify wretched sin, encouraging boldness in sin and forbidding proper repentance and confession, thus refusing Christ’s absolution and gracious forgiveness. Sadly, these capitulations to the demonic powers are not part of the eternal purpose which God has realized in Christ Jesus. So all of God’s dear children of faith must take care as to what part they are playing in this cosmic and heavenly drama. Surely it is more blessed to be shining the light of God’s gracious love and mercy, to be trumpeting His gracious salvation each day in humble repentance and joy in His forgiveness. This is the plan of God, the principle purpose of the church, our great blessedness and privilege.
Those privileged to preach and teach the unsearchable riches of Christ do so solely by the grace of God. They are often the least likely people to be granted such grace – notorious sinners like Moses, David, Solomon, the disciples, and Paul. Recognizing that they have no “earned” right to preach, that they are among the worst of sinners, they humbly but powerfully continue pressing forward the Word of God – in the face of accusations of all kinds, both from men and from demons. The psalms are full of descriptions of this struggle and warfare directed against God’s chosen spokesmen. But the joy of expressing and sharing the riches of Christ, of bringing the light of God’s love and His eternal plan to bear within the church, and participating in God’s eternal purpose makes the heavy and bitter struggle well worth it. May God grant continued strength, peace, and joy to all of these servants who are “the very least of all the saints.” And may He continue to fulfill His purpose in each of us and in our congregations – to the praise of His glorious grace.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thanks and praise be to You for the wondrous and rich blessings You have provided for us in the atonement and redemption You have accomplished for us in Your suffering, death, and resurrection. Thank You for the privilege of being part of Your church, for enabling us to be part of Your eternal purpose of making known the rich and varied wisdom of God to all the world, and even to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. Forbid that we fall away from faith in Your gracious love, and fail our purpose. Lift us up constantly with the joy of Your salvation that we persevere in faith until our work is done. Amen.