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, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:10 – 12

I find that I see more and more of the grace of God as I ponder this profound letter to the believers in Ephesus – Jews, Gentiles and all people.  Amazing grace, we sing, and in our minds we say “Amen.”

“Through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known.”  The church of our Lord in the world, those who love and follow Him, weak as we are, show clearly the love of God for all people, no matter our tribe, race, or anything else.  Our combined voices, from the fellowships in Japan to the congregations in our land, so to speak, speak a common message, our unity is what was accomplished in Christ Jesus, our Lord.  It is the grace of God at work. We do not create this fellowship of believers that surrounds the globe today, God did and God inhabits it today!

Reading the news this morning of what is happening in our beloved nation, split over protests at football games, is a call to all believers to cry out against this.  What is happening to us when a “Christian” politician is elected, seen pulling a pistol from his pocket and all the images that conjures up?  Should we not stop and think for a bit?  Is that the message of our Jesus?  He tells us to drop our carnal weapons and fight the fight of faith, not with human force.

Is this why we, the church, seem so weak?  As we condemn others who are also believers in Jesus, is it not strange that in so doing we lose our freedom and confidence in Jesus Christ, our Lord? In other words, as we believers quarrel, how do we pray?  It weakens our prayer life and saps our love for one another.

Lord, renew our faith!  Forbid that we should use the arm of the flesh to divide instead of using that arm to embrace.