Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

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 3:20, 21

What a closing statement!  Now was then and it is now, now!  God is God.  He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.  Do I even begin to grasp this amazing truth?  He is able.  And He is in us! It is not just a hopeful promise but God is God, always faithful.

Paul is overwhelmed by this reality – God in us, a new power, indeed, that is at work in us.  Do I even begin to comprehend this?  I have been a believer for, lo, these 73 years!  Yet, when I read these words this morning, I stand in awe of who God is, who dwells in me, and what he has done, is doing and will do.  I agree with Paul, it is immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.  Who can fully comprehend that?

As we live in awe, we know that the power of God is at work within us as he is at work in the Church and in Christ Jesus, Paul reminds us.

I know that the blessing falls on us who believe, in our generation.  But then in all generations to come.

God is glorified for ever and ever!  Let us join in a mighty, heart-felt “AMEN.”

The Laurel View Home is built on our former neighbor’s property.  His name was Norman Hershberger.  As growing lads we helped out on his farm in the summers.

The QUEEN sits on the couch – wearing a blue dress – Twila, now 103 and with a clear mind and lovely spirit.  Our Queen, that is for sure. She was with us for lunch, at her request!  That surprised and blessed us.  What a marvelous person is Twila.

Others in the picture are our group plus Brad, Dot; Sylvia; Dan; Dorothy.  We had a grand two hours together.  Satisfied with the great food, we then took this picture.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family 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.

Ephesians 3:14 – 19

I love this conclusion to chapter 3 of Ephesians.  Paul, we recall, was a Pharisee in his earlier life, committed to full obedience to the law as summarized by the rabbis.  Those who had arrived at this level of obedience were convinced that they can please God entirely by obedience.   Paul as one of their young leaders, held to this dogma and so looked down on all others.

Now, having been found by Jesus, he realizes that God, the Father, has given his name to every group of human beings.  That revolutionized Paul’s thinking!  He is writing to Ephesian believers, Jews and Gentiles, and in effect to all mankind.  He is opening the door of the salvation of Jesus Christ to all people of all times.

Paul’s prayer for them was based on the assurance that the Spirit of the Lord is in each one of them, Jew or Gentile. He prayed that out of his glorious riches (Christ’s) he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  The prayer culminated in the wonderful fact that Christ Jesus dwells in the hearts of all the believers thus giving them faith!

That faith in God enables them to send their roots down into the rich soil of Christ’s love.  They learn that they are God’s holy people, from all backgrounds, now believers.   This is all love!  They live in the cusp of discovering 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.

 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. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

Ephesians 3:10 – 13

These three sentences contain so much!  First is Paul’s testimony about God’s wisdom in choosing to live in those who follow Christ, in such diversity that all human need is met.  Of course, we have the texts of Scripture that we love very much but the powerful people on earth who run things have little or no interest or knowledge of that.  Paul states that as the believers honor God and shape their lives around the Gospel, then even those who are not at all interested, even negative, can see the wisdom and power of God as lived and displayed by believers – in simple but humble rejoicing believers.

Secondly, Paul asserts that the eternal purposes of God are now experienced by those who have made Jesus Christ their Lord. That relationship is so close that their lives are exhibits of God’s marvelous grace.  In other words, if people want to see God at work, let them look at the church of Jesus Christ where the various giftings of God are clear and strong, working together to reveal the love of God for all.

Then Paul encourages believers to approach God with freedom and confidence.  Our gift!

So Paul closes the opening statement in this amazing and beautiful letter.  The closing statement is a testimony – Paul has and is still suffering for Jesus’ sake.  That is important.  Following Jesus includes suffering for him.  But, Paul adds, in a most wonderful way, that as the Ephesian believers understand how he suffered for them, they should not pity Paul, but should delight in his suffering, in so doing glorify God themselves.

My Lord, may I see myself as exhibiting your saving grace today and always.

Even though the clouds darken and some rain appears, we enjoyed family fun as we visited several family sites in Johnstown, here about to descend on the famous inclined plane, the steepest in US.  Happy day!  This is Saturday July 21, 2017.

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 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 3:7 – 9

Paul pauses now.  What he just wrote is truly new, that Jews and Gentiles who believe are now a new body on the earth.  That was the culmination of God’s revelation, and his gift for all mankind.  Nothing like this ever happened before – unity that has nothing to do with history, culture or biology!  This happens, not by destroying culture but by calling believers who are in these cultures to love one another with a love that is greater than local loyalty.

Paul insists that he did not concoct this vision, but by the grace of God he caught the vision of God’s work of grace and is now preaching about the miracle of God.  He is not a master of the revelation but its humble servant.  It is a revelation to Paul that stretches everything in him to reach out and grasp the reality that he is experiencing, participating in this new fellowship of love, the love of Jesus.  I am convinced that Paul is sincere in his humility, so to speak.  I recall that Paul committed himself as a Jew to become a great Pharisee.  Now what?  I hear him say that in the light of the revelation, I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people.  He is called to preach to Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.  He is called to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God.

Paul is excited!  As we should be.  I am excited about many things, is my greatest excitement the knowledge that God is forming his kingdom of faith and that we are in it?  Heaven sees it and fills the place with praise.  It is a new day.

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

I wondered at first who Paul is now addressing, Jewish believers or Gentile believers?  He clarifies that – “you Gentiles,” he wrote.   Paul knows how hard it is for Jews to relate to Gentiles, given their long history of antagonism.  I need to remember that Paul is not only a Jew but a Pharisee, the strictest of the Jews, who insist on absolute obedience to the Law of Moses which sets them apart from Gentiles.

Paul then goes on to explain that he is a prisoner of Christ Jesus.  To be sure, he wrote this letter as a prisoner of powerful Rome. But he is quick to declare that he is not a prisoner of Rome but of Christ Jesus.   That makes all the difference!

Then Paul carefully explains that this vision of the Kingdom of God does not come from him, but from God himself.  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.

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.

In a few words Paul describes the Kingdom of God.  It is a bombshell!  Gentiles and Jewish believers are now joint heirs in this new and amazing body, those who share the promises of Jesus that are for all.

That vision sets all on edge.  Old alliances are gone, old commitments to sectional interests are history for those who believe!  The new has come, a new thing on the earth.  It was taking shape in Ephesus!  As in many other places.

Imagine, a fellowship of love around Jesus Christ from every nation – living together today!  Now, that is a vision that surpasses all.

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

As I understand it, God wants people everywhere to be amazed by the fact that through Jesus Christ and his atoning work a new way of living is open where all believers can find unity and peace.  This is a new reality, now revealed.

It is so different from the ways of human beings who want peace but fight all the time. All history is the repeated story of cultural or sectional pride on the one hand and the fear of being weakened on the other.  So, people see hope in killing others to protect themselves.  This is the old song, sung with new voices until today!  Is that the way it will be forever?

Paul says, come over here, look at the church in which people of all backgrounds love one another because of what Christ has accomplished for them.  This is God’s way, His answer to our dilemma. There is a way, the way of salvation by Jesus Christ.  The door is open to all who believe, enter in today.

This has been the purpose of God all along, that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Instead of getting God on our side to conquer our enemies, we rush together to God where we are truly one!  It is a costly way but the only way to eternal peace.