Last updated on December 9, 2024
Today’s reflection is on the book of Ephesians. Many believe this was written during Paul’s two years under house arrest. Others believe it was written much later. Still others believe it wasn’t even written by Paul. Finally, there is the thought that this is actually the letter to the church in Laodicea that was mentioned in Colossians.
There’s no way to know for sure, but when I read it I think about it in the context of Paul as the writer, and most likely of it being written during this time in Rome. It is different from some of the other letters. It’s not as personal, which leads many to believe that it’s a letter written to a larger group of people – perhaps it’s to the many churches that were started during that third missionary journey.
Like yesterday, I’ll just share some highlights of this incredible letter.
Paul begins by sharing God’s plan for this group of people (and really, his plan for all people)…
Long before he laid down earth’s foundation, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
Ephesians 1:3-6, The Message
Once again, it was because of Jesus that everything that had been lost and broken was now restored, and the impact of this was bigger than they could image…
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people – free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
Ephesians 1:7-10, The Message
Paul wanted every he knew to understand deeply what God had done for them in Christ…
Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
Ephesians 2:7-10, The Message
Towards the end of the letter Paul explains how this new life in Christ is fleshed out; what it should actually look like. And it begins once again with love!
Watch what God does, and then do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don’t talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.
Ephesians 5:1-4, The Message
Be First to Comment