Running together

Ephesians

I've read the book of ephesians through, over a cup of coffee, a few times the past week. Each time the Spirit and the coffee overcame me. As a whole the book is more esciting and I can see the mystic-caught-up-into-heaven side of Paul that I like so much. The readings kick my butt. The first time they propelled me to do a visit, something that always scares me. The second time it pulled me out of the slough of despond. This last time has likewise filled me with zeal, tears, and the Spirit praying through me. The more I re-read it, the more I prove again to myself that Peterson's introduction to the book is dead on.

What we know about God and what we do for God have a way of getting broken apart in our lives. The moment the organic unity of belief and behavior is damaged in any way, we are incapable of living out the full humanity for which we were created.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians joins together what has been torn apart in our sin-wrecked world. He begins with an exuberant exploration of what Christians believe about God, and then, like a surgeon skillfully setting a compound fracture, “sets” this belief in God into our behavior before God so that the bones—beliefs and behavior—knit together and heal.

Once our attention is called to it, we notice these fractures all over the place. There is hardly a bone in our bodies that has escaped injury, hardy a relationship in city or job, school or church, family or country, that isn’t out of joint or limping in pain. There is much work to be done.

And so Paul goes to work. He ranges widely, from heaven to earth and back again, showing how Jesus, the Messiah, is eternally and tirelessly bringing everything and everyone together. He also shows us that in addition to having this work done in and for us, we are participants in this most urgent work. Now that we know what is going on, that the energy of reconciliation is the dynamo a the heart of the universe, it is imperative that we join in vigorously and perseveringly, convinced that every detail in our lives contributes (or not) to what Paul describes as God’s plan worked out in by Christ, “a long range plan in which everything would be brought together in summed up in him, everything in deepest heaved, everything on planet earth.”

I think this week's text shows us the best place to start living our lives in the light of what God has done to put us back together.

Bread from heaven

The Israelites are confused by this strange stuff on the leaves. Indeed it is a marvel. The dew evaporates and a flaky substance is left behind. “What is it?!”

The psalmist calls it “the bread of the angels.”

The people looking for Jesus are asking the same question. They don’t understand what the bread from heaven is. They don’t realize that God sent the manna, or that God sent Jesus his own Son. Here the powerful symbolism of communion, especially in the Catholic understanding, gives us pause and stands us in awe. We eat this true bread of heaven, the bread of angels.

Living rightly

David is confronted with the story of a man who takes the poor mans only and beloved ewe. See “King George and The Ducky” for the powerful flannel graph version of Nathan’s story. The king is rightly hart broken and enraged at the actions of the man.

“O king, you are the man!”

David responds immediately with repentance.

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”

Coincidentally, David’s story is contrasted by Paul’s hopes for the Ephesians. The Message Remix puts it,

“In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel.”

I love how Paul wants us to live rightly in light of God’s power and goodness. It is especially sweetly stated in the Message:

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!

Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!

Glory down all the generations!

Glory through all Millennia! Oh, yes!”

And here is what we live in light of! The glory of God! Permeated with Oneness! Oh, Paul, thank you for your pastor’s heart. Thank you for your good word of exhortation! God bring the fruit and make manifest in our churches what you have already made a reality.