Among other things, St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a tender, tough, and passionate plea for pure-hearted, humble unity in Christ.
How is this even possible?
In me or you? Fuggedaboutit! Our egos get in the way.
In CHRIST.
“Look,” Paul seems to say, “this ideal transcends denominational details to focus on the essential elements:"
One body
One Spirit,
One hope
one Lord
one faith
one baptism
one God and Father of all…
For those wild Corinthians, he flattens the org chart while affirming job descriptions,
“For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” (12:14; 12-27)
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul affirms a human rights angle, saying
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (v. 3:28)
Induction into this Universal Body is through the Cross of Christ, that exposes our shared need for a Savior because of our inherent inclination to evil. Oh, yes. I said “evil.” It’s that bad, people, apart from said “abject” dependence on Christ.
Note that Oxford defines “abject” as without “pride or dignity; self-abasing.”
Ego hates that!
Jesus said “"No one is good—except God alone." (Luke 18:19)
If that bugs you, how about Paul’s slightly more positive spin to the Romans,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (v.3:23)
Bye-bye ego. This truth doesn’t allow for moral superiority because we all fall short.
The Christian life is a paradoxical continuous dying to self. In dying, we’re born again into a new body, more fully our wonderful, unique selves as God created us to be before time (Psalm 139:14-16). The (excruciating) pain is in the resistance to God’s work in us.
Each member is equally precious, each has a distinct but equal role of equal value, finite creatures graced with the indwelling Spirit of an infinite Creator. All of us designed for works of service in benefit the whole (Ephesians 1:7-16).
I love how one of the guidelines for 12 step recovery puts it, “1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon ________unity.”
God’s plan is on time:
“God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth."(Ephesians 1:9-10)
Now wouldn’t it solve so many problems if we got on board with God’s program?
Sweeter still is this:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
The world: That means everyone. God wants everyone at His heavenly party.
Everyone.
PRAYER:
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:17-21)
Thank You. I love You.
I'm very grateful for your support.
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