For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians 1:15 – 17

Quite a few years have passed since Paul’s extended stay in Ephesus, building up the saints there and evangelizing in that part of Greece.  From what we know the fellowships there contained both Jewish and Gentile believers, some more Jewish, some more Gentile and certainly some mixed.  They met in homes mostly, of course.  It was a truly Christ honoring fellowship in which Jews and Gentiles, by culture, could live together in peace and spread the Gospel that is to be lived by people in their cultures, yet beyond their cultures.

Paul is writing this letter while in Rome, waiting for a decision on his appeal to Caesar.  It was a great opportunity for him to send a letter of encouragement to the brothers and sisters in Ephesus.  He commends them for their faith in the Lord Jesus and for their love for all God’s people.  They truly believed that God had called them in Christ to be a body of people, Jews and Gentiles, a new thing on the earth.  Finally, they could love one another regardless of culture.  That marked them!

Their faith in Jesus and what he did for them was the basis of their witness.  As they learned to love one another in Jesus, even of different cultures, they had courage to share this miracle of fellowship with others.  If I am not mistaken, the body of Christ in Ephesus included a variety of cultures that made that great trading city so cosmopolitan.  They did not split into ethnic groups.

The vision was being realized in Ephesus!  Paul was elated.  He prayed for them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that they may know him (Christ) better.”  I find it interesting that Paul did not say, “know one another better.”  That follows only because they know Jesus Christ better.  They began well, that is certain.  Now, Paul encourages them to get to know Jesus even better!

I believe this is our calling today as well.  There is no doubt that the Body of Christ is growing in more and more cultures of the world.  As we allow the Spirit of Christ to guide us, we are blessed beyond measure.  We are in an eternal body that has feet on earth and head in heaven!