Paul on the church #4

"And now for my next conclusion..." How many times have you heard a preacher say that? Some preachers (current WHFC clergy excluded of course) tend to be a little "windy" during their prayer and preaching times. Evidently "they" must have picked this bad habit up from the apostle Paul because smack dab in the middle of his letter to the Ephesians he shares a benediction. Hello?

Even though it may have been a little premature on Paul's part in sharing these words of benediction, still we learn a valuable truth about the Church. Here Paul shares the two primary sources by which God chooses to glorify Himself with: Jesus Christ and the Church. The text reads, "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

Wow! You talk about the faith of God ... It is easy to see how He would place His proverbial eggs in Christ's basket. Who could not be glorified through the stellar reputation and work of Christ... but the Church? Come on God. What were You thinking? Church people are a pretty small limb to shimmy out on, don't You think?
Evidently not! God has placed His faith in the plan He has put forth and so must we. God has staked His reputation on us.

So in conclusion let me say, "we need to be living up to it!" We must fully embrace the life of Christ, surrender leadership of self to Him, and go forth daily with the understanding that it is God seeking to glorify Himself through our daily existence. The apostle Paul writes elsewhere, "... For it is no longer I who live BUT Christ who lives through me ..." (Gal. 2:20). Is that the conclusion you have come to in your life? What say you?

Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian