Ephesians 3, 1 Corinthians 8-12

Through the New Testament Reading - 1 Corinthians 8-12

(see more notes on Ephesians 3)

Ephesians 3 (NIV 1984)
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 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, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

++
++
++

My Reflection:

I read this chapter three times this morning to let it sink in. I sat quietly for a while.

Then I read what I wrote about the chapter three weeks ago.

God's power is unlimited. It is especially unlimited by our prejudices, our hatreds, or hostility to and among our fellow humans. As it says in the previous chapter, in verse 14, "he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, bu abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations".

From God's end, there is absolutely nothing that can come between us and him, through Christ. By the same faith, there is now nothing that can need even the most separated peoples from one another. By faith, we are free to love and serve and be loved and served together as brothers and sisters of our new adopted family.

That's immeasurably more than we are able to ask or think or even imagine. We are free, free, free.