David Bahn – Reflections

Ephesians 3:10

…so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

There are plenty of problems with and in the Christian Church today – the visible, church on earth, that is. We’ve experienced the reality of that “up close and personal” over the years. Church fights about worship styles, misunderstandings about programs, challenges of financial mis-dealings, and even pastoral and priestly scandals of all kinds. The charge that there are hypocrites in the church is difficult to refute. But for reasons of God’s own choosing the church is the means by which the manifold wisdom of God is to be revealed.

We might well criticize ourselves – or at least give ourselves a careful and humble self-evaluation – seeking to become more fully reflective of the grace, goodness, humility, love, and kindness of Jesus to the world. We might seek to adopt an attitude of humility and gentleness, taking ourselves down a notch or two on the smugness scale. But we must never overlook that somehow the church is the means by which God has revealed his wisdom.

Look closely also at to whom that wisdom of God is revealed: “to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” God’s desire is for all people, powers, authorities, and rulers would see the splendor of his wisdom through the church. We – together as the body of Christ – reveal something about God. He is wise beyond measure and good from the core of his being. Your presence and mine in the body of believers is testimony of that. We do well to express that truth because we are God’s people. We didn’t become his people by anything we did, but by his grace in Jesus Christ. Now we can demonstrate his work in our lives by rejoicing with all believers in our identity as God’s beloved people in Jesus Christ our Lord. We can be bold in approaching his throne of grace, and confident in faith of his good will toward us.

The church on earth is not perfect. But we worship a perfect, gracious, loving and good God who has called us to a unity within Christ’s body. For that we can be truly thankful.

Ephesians 3:1-13

¹ For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

 ⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ 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, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.