JMD Devotional 248 Ephesians 3:4-6,9-12 The Big Picture

4-6 When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. [This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit. [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel).

Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus. [The purpose is] that through the church the complicated ("manifold"), many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere. This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord, In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).

Note that we are the recipients of God’s grace, not the ‘audience’, which are heavenly beings. If it was all about us, then God could have made things very simple indeed; but spirits exist that exceed our sense of propriety, justice, integrity, righteousness; Heaven has accountants and auditors who miss no detail. The salvation of humanity, in part, is a statement to a spiritual jury, and mankind is on trial for the Fall, and God is on trial (in a sense) for making creatures that could sin. The salvation that reconciles everything and satisfies all of the ‘buts…’ and ‘what-ifs’ had to be entirely comprehensive: it had to address the organic consequences of sin, the legal ramifications, the military ‘court marshal’, the family breach, the aftermath of chaos and misery, the personal betrayal. It required an advocate, a sacrifice, substitution, reconciliation, rebirth, adoption, regeneration and a new paradigm. No wonder Christianity and the Church is complicated! It is exactly what it HAS to be to satisfy the Heavenly Administration.

Dear God,
I confess the tendency to take short-cuts and overlook consequences; but You always act in perfect righteousness. Thank You for being proactive and initiating my salvation! I praise You for outwitting mankind’s chief critic and destroyer by making the ultimate sacrifice Yourself. I can see that the challenge was not just to defeat the Devil, but to satisfy the Spirits of Righteousness and Integrity and Justice. You are so Moral; and Your Love for humanity is so great. It is all too much to fathom. May I gratefully receive the cup of Your salvation and encourage others to drink deeply of it as well.
Amen

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