There are few passages of Scripture more power packed and beautiful than this:
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
God's desire and plan is to reveal His character to the universe through the theater of His church. That's why Paul is on his knees. The thought would put anyone on their knees. My favourite author puts it this way:
"Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own." (Christ's Object Lessons, 69)
Seems crazy, impossible, preposterous, heretical even, yet there it is.
Jesus is the riches of God's glory (character). If you have seen Jesus you have seen God. The simple carpenter kneeling beside the sick, eating with the cast offs of society, touching lepers, crossing borders and cultures, respecting women as equals, treating foreigners as friends - this is God.

His chosen place of residence is no longer a distant mountain top or a man made temple. He wants to be "one flesh" with His people. While we ponder this seeming impossibility tomorrow we'll take the same passage and go deeper. I'll leave you with 3 words: Faith, hope, and love.
No comments:
Post a Comment