READING: EPHESIANS 1: 4-10
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
REFLECTION
Welcome to a new week of foundations and a new book of the Bible to journey with together. This week we will be looking at the first two chapters of Ephesians, a letter believed to be written by Paul when he was in prison. It’s generally believed that this was a letter written to be read in several different churches, encouraging and challenging as it went. The opening verses of chapter one are an incredible prayer of thanks to God for all he has done and is. I’d encourage you today to make time to read the whole of chapter one to give you a better taste of what Paul is saying. In these first opening paragraphs Paul wants to remind us of the bigger story that we as Christians are caught up in.

Before Christmas I went to see the new Star Wars films. Don’t worry there’s no spoilers here if you haven’t seen it, but I loved it. As a standalone film it was really enjoyable packed with amazing special effects and one liners. But what made the film even better was that it is one part of a much bigger story. Those of us who loved the original three (the less said about the other three the better!) were treated to so many pointers, reminders, that this film had a legacy. I loved the tangible excitement in the cinema when the Millennium Falcon was first glimpsed - an indicator that what we were witnessing was part of a much bigger narrative, the film itself kept referring to the fact that it had a history and to fans delight a future.

In Ephesians Paul is pointing us back to the bigger story, reminding us that the moment we exist in is not all there is and even that our personal salvation isn’t the whole point. Verses 9 and 10 of chapter one read:

With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Paul is telling us God’s purpose in the world. That in Jesus, heaven and earth are coming together. That God’s Kingdom is coming. Paul is clear throughout his letters that God’s aim was never for all Christians to disappear off to heaven together but for heaven to come to earth, for God’s kingdom to transform the world. Jesus is central to that as His resurrection is the sign that all of this has already begun. Our job is to be witnesses to God’s kingdom, to live and to bring about change that points to this bigger story that one day God will bring together heaven and earth in total unity.
PRAY
Lord, this week let us remember that we are part of a bigger story, one of restoration, redemption and resurrection. Help us to find the places where we can bring the hope of the Kingdom to our world. May our lives point to your bigger story every day. Amen.