Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Ephesians 3:8, 9

Amazing!  The revered Paul sees himself as less than the least of all the Lord’s people.  Is that hyperbole or true?  I believe that is exactly how Paul himself, and how he saw Jesus Christ.

If Jesus can rescue him, the “holy Pharisee” he can rescue anyone!  When Jesus met this Saul on the way to Damascus all his self-righteousness fell away.  He stood before Jesus as a needy sinner.  All he achieved was meaningless.  It was such a shock he went blind!  If there ever was a human being who needed salvation it was Saul, the persecutor of the followers of Jesus.  That realization struck him with mighty force, grace at work.

As time passed Paul realized in his heart of hearts that he was called to preach to the Gentiles, the boundless riches of Christ. Earlier, Saul held Gentiles in contempt, so to speak, now he loves them and wishes for them all the blessings of Christ who is calling them to himself.  He is a saved Jew, they are saved Gentiles – what a fellowship!

I need to know more and more that I am a servant to all people.  My pride of race, culture and so forth must be dissolved in the love of Jesus.  I am the neediest person on the planet!  Lord, impress me with this truth.

We are delighted to have Finn with is mother, Dani, and father, Zel (our grandson) here for two weeks. Finn is a delight, that is for sure.  Here about 5 months old.  Finn brings a new dimension to their home in Brisbane, Australia.  Jane and Glenn hope to visit them in Australia later this year.  Welcome, Finn, into this family!  You are one of us, that is for sure.  You brighten our days.

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.  Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 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.

Ephesians 3:1 – 6

The church in Ephesus included Jews and Gentiles, yet Paul, as he begins this section of his writing, addresses the Gentiles.  At least that is how I read the text.  “For the sake of you Gentiles.”

Without doubt, this is one of most astounding revelations imaginable – Jews and Gentiles living together in peace!  Paul did not arrive at this conclusion because he was so brilliant.  It was revealed to him by God.  He goes on to say that not only did he receive this revelation but others did as well.  He refers to them as apostles and prophets.  They, too, received this revelation by the Spirit of God.  This is not a private revelation only to Paul, but many believers, Jews and Gentiles received the revelation.

So, what is this revelation?  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.  I am overwhelmed as I think of this. Even casual readers of the Old Testament are struck by the way God insulated the Jews from Gentile influences. Then, we read this statement!  It is hard to adjust our thinking to absorb this truth.  The theme of God’s calling the Jews was that they must be separate from the world.  “Be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.”  Then we hear the startling news, Gentiles and Jews who love Jesus are now members together of one body. 

How is that to be realized in Ephesus, in our world today?  Is this not the vital issue?  It is easy to split. It requires the grace of God to live as one, together.

We are privileged to receive a visit from Anna Ruth’s niece and Paul, her husband.  They now live in Williamsburg.  Paul is living in the aftermath of a rather serious stroke but is doing very, very well, about to resume his work.  He was in Lancaster to attend the meetings put on by Everence.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19 – 22

Great good news!  Jews and Gentiles, and all other groups on earth have before them the unbelievable blessing of being “God’s people and also members of his household.”  It is one thing, and a wonderful thing it is, to be God’s people. That is good news for every human being.  The price has been paid, the door is open, the welcome sign is blinking.  The next blessing is marvelous, to come into the house of God’s people!  Can we fully comprehend the privilege we have (because of the redeeming work of the trinity) a place among God’s people?  We belong to a new creation, the redeemed ones.  It rises above nationality and ethnicity.  It is God’s household.

Then Paul shifts the metaphor a bit, he goes on to say, we are part of God’s building, the blocks, the flooring, the windows, etc.  Each part is connected to all the other parts, no one is left out who is saved by the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ.  Further, each part builds the temple of which Jesus is the cornerstone.

It is an amazing building, a holy temple in the Lord.  God dwells in this temple!  It is his place for all time and for all people.  Is there a more compelling vision that carries us forward?  Praise God for this blessed gift – life with Him in his temple, so to speak.  Praise Him forever and ever.

Almost every year we make our way to the Weaver Orchards near Morgantown to buy their special mixture of apples that together make a wonderful sauce, without adding any sugar.  Here Twila and Anna Ruth are hard at work making the tasty sauce that we will enjoy this Winter and beyond. We got a whole bushel this year.

Hershey Reunion

I had the joy of videoing the Saturday presentations of the Hershey 300^th year celebration at the Manor BIC Church.  I found it great joy to know that our friends of many years, 18 years as our pastor, in fact, were behind this significant event, Carl and Doris Hershey.  Our relationship goes back over many years, way back when we played mixed doubles tennis with zest and vigor on the Herr Park courts.  Also very memorable was our personal trip with them to Belize when they celebrated their 40^th wedding anniversary and we our 60^th.   What a marvelous time.  They have very definitely enriched our lives so it was a pleasure to do some videoing for the reunion at their request.

Reunions are a great time to pause, ponder and praise!  We pray that this event will further the unity and purpose of the many, many Hersheys in North America.

May God grant all you Hersheys grace and peace as you bless us all.

And the Hershey chocolate bars that you distributed to us all add sweetness to the occasion.  Thanks.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Ephesians 2:14 – 18

All of us believers, no matter what culture or age, experience a peace that is more real than the morning sun.  The reason for this is that Jesus Christ himself is our peace.  He moves into us to enable us to live like him and to think like him, to forgive like him.  This is a mystery I am beginning to value more highly than ever.

I need to look again at this miracle of God’s grace.  Paul wrote that Jesus broke down the walls that separate.  How did that happen?   Here we stand before a mystery of grace.   Read carefully.  Jesus set aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.  He did not say that the Law of Moses is of no effect, just that it is removed from the center.  By so doing Jesus created in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace.

Jesus absorbed Jews and Gentiles in his body and died on the cross to destroy the enmity that separated them.  Jews and Gentiles, all people for that matter, find that Jesus has reconciled each to God by the Cross he bore.  As far as salvation is concerned there is absolutely no difference between them.  Jesus’ one sacrifice saves each which enables them to love one another.  I bow before this overwhelming grace of God.  A hymn says, “He interposed his precious blood.”

Because of that work of mercy on the Cross, the answer to human relationships at last has an answer, Jesus himself is our peace.  What Paul is writing about, the relationship between Jews and Gentiles, is apo pro to every human relationship.  I saw it working between hostile African groups.  I stood in amazement as Jesus became the peace between groups.   This Scripture is absolutely true!

In our front yard we are often surprised by what we see.  This morning it was a large browning mushroom.  I include an earlier one with a tennis ball beside it to help imagine the size.   By this time I think I should have seen everything.  But this large fellow seems to be new to me.