Ive been struck by the weightiness of this today from Ephesians 3:8-13.
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Grace was given to Paul…and to us.
Regardless of your area of service in the church, grace has been given to you. If you are a child of God, it is because of his grace (2:8). This was beaten into our heads on Sunday.
To bring the gospel to a people…
This grace is given so that we might proclaim his excellencies and live as light in the world. As we bring the gospel, the Spirit works in the lives of our friends and neighbors – drawing, wooing, redeeming. And we see the gospel bear fruit in new lives that belong to Jesus.
So that through that people…the eternal purpose of God might be seen in the whole universe…namely…the manifold wisdom of God displayed in the church. Now, this is staggering, God has called us to himself. He has graced us in the gospel. He has called and qualified us for ministry. And the effect of faithful ministry is that God’s eternal purpose gets worked out in our little part of His global plans.
Exodus, What would it look like for our church to display the manifold wisdom of God?
This question should reverberate in our hearts for a moment. How are we, as Exodus Church, to play our little part of God’s eternal purpose…so that the manifold (that just sounds awesome) wisdom of God might be seen – not just in the world – but in the heavenly places? How do we live together as the people of God so that the angels see God’s wisdom through our gospel community?
That’s a vision big enough for me to spend my life finding the answer. What about you?
Let’s play our parts well, so that God’s eternal purpose can be seen and savored in the church – particularly Exodus Church.
