sometimes you're reminded

Sometimes, you're reminded of how the Christian heroes of old survived in an age without "Christian" bookstores. This is one of those times.

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 men 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.

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 God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable 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. 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. 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.

Sometime's it is hard for me to read Paul (as in here in Ephesians 3), because it's easy to see him as arrogant and egotistical - unless you remember that he is writing to the Ephesians as their spiritual leader, in full belief that what he believes has been revealed to him by God. With that in mind, look at the second paragraph. This is our calling, and resounds with me because I am studying to be in ministry professionally. God allowed me, who had no right to be such a leader (regardless of my gifts, deeds, or abilities) to serve Him in this capacity, and He empowers me to do it.

It is also very important to note that He spreads His glory through the church. Despite what I feel from time to time about the church and its problems, God states here that the expression of His glroy to the world will primarily be the church. To me, this means:

• "nature" is not enough of a witness to fully reveal Christ to most people. I cannot be apathetic in my view of evangelism.
• If a church has fallen away, my upmost efforts should be to restore that fellowship to a correct view of Christ, rather than immediately going off and starting my own thing.
• Parachurch ministries are not enough - they should exist only to assist the local church.
• Efforts should not simply go into leading people to Christ, but to reproducing the church in a local context.

Then, Paul continues the thought he began at the beginning of the passage:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family[a] 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 saints, 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.
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.

Krissi commented this morning that perhaps we misuse the concept faith. I think we mix it up with effort (if I would only try harder to do X, if I only trusted God more = if I had more faith...). One of the major themes of the entire book of Ephesians is God's grace towards us - we do not have the ability ourselves to come to Him OR to continue with Him. Look at the prayer: He glorifies the One whose power is at work within us, asks that the power may be strengthened, to the point that we have the power to comprehend God's love for us! This love is beyond mere knowledge, so we cannot study theology or the Bible or spiritual disciplines to understand it...it comes from Him.

I want to begin to pray "Lord, give me the ability to understand you better, the faith to dive deeper into your love."