Ephesians 1:17-19 (as part of the Epistle Reading for 11/3/2019)
17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
I was in a conversation recently with a young adult who asked me, “what’s the point of church, anyway? Without using any religious language, what really is the point of church?” This resulted in a very interesting wondering on my part, as I tried to articulate in a way this person could understand what I hope those who come to worship experience or encounter.
The writer of Ephesians uses a lot of religious-sounding words in this passage. But, in some ways, could the writer be trying to articulate his response to a question like ‘what’s the point of it all’?
The point is so you receive wisdom and revelation as you come to know him (this mysterious, boundary-less, simultaneously cosmic and incarnate force).
The point is that the eyes of your heart (not your head–intellect, but your heart–feeling/emotion/soul/self) are enlightened as you discover the hope to which you are called.
The point is that you discover the riches of this inheritance that are yours!
The point is that you are captivated by immeasurable greatness!
What would it be like if this is what people experienced when they encountered church (the people, the building, the structure…the whole thing)? What would it be like if people encountered church and found people were praying for them? What would it be like if people encountered church and found themselves drawn to wisdom, revelation, and enlightenment? What would it be like if people encountered church and felt called to hope? What would it be like if people encountered church and were captivated by immeasurable greatness?
This passage is both underlined and highlighted in my Bible. When I was more directly involved in faith formation, these verses became the opening devotions at leadership team meetings at the beginning of the year. They were inscribed in the front of Bibles gifted to 3rd graders and to middle school confirmation students. They were written in cards sent to graduating seniors. Because I think these verses pretty clearly summarize for me what compels me to invest in faith formation.
How about you? What’s the point?