“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 which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Ephesians 3:10-11
I’m struck by the lofty vision Paul has of the Church. According to the apostle, the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth is today using the Church to proclaim to all the powers and authorities above and below what he has done and is doing in Jesus. Paul says the Church — the Church, for crying out loud! — is the vehicle God is using to communicate to the world what his salvation plan is all about.
Most of us just view Church as a place that puts on services.
No, Scripture tells us that the Church is God’s megaphone to the planet and beyond. The ways we live in the Church, the ways we talk as Church, the ways we mourn and rejoice, the ways we weep and laugh, the ways we sacrifice and serve and heal and restore is the way our Father proclaims and demonstrates his holy plan for saving and reconciling the world.
Boy, that puts an unparalleled importance on the Church.
According to Paul, the ways we treat one another and interact with the community around us causes the beam of his eternal glory to burst right out of our church buildings. That light, so obvious to anybody who comes in contact with us, declares with unmistakable force that God is sovereign here, the Jesus is Lord here, that the Holy Spirit works here, and that the powers of darkness are in big trouble!
God’s purposes have already been accomplished in Christ. What remains is the unfolding of what’s been established. And the Bible says God is doing that through us.
Peace,
Allan
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