Garry spoke tonight from Eph 3:9-13 and Eph 4:1-4, talking about how we are urged to live the life worthy of our calling. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was written whilst he was a prisoner in Rome, under house arrest. Despite these inauspicious circumstances, Paul was able to pray and minister to a wide range of churches; he may have been in physical chains, but spiritually he was free. This gives us an important insight into how we need that wider perspective when we suffer, for suffering tends to focus our attention very narrowly. When we are in pain or suffer (e.g. through bereavement or grief), we often find it difficult to see beyond our own circumstances and pain, but God wants us to look through the macro lens rather than be consumed by the micro.
In a photograph, we can zoom in on one aspect of the photo, but so often, there is a ‘bigger picture’ to be seen; we need ‘helicopter vision’ to zoom out and see that bigger picture. Paul is keen that the Ephesians are not discouraged because of his suffering (Eph 3:13), for he is aware that he is fulfilling God’s plan for his life, even though he was chained and restricted. Paul’s prayers for the Ephesians (see Eph 1:15-19) reflect thankfulness, which is the key to seeing the bigger picture. He prays for their eyes to be enlightened or illuminated to see the hope God has for them. So often, when we suffer, the picture looks black and white, but as our eyes are illuminated, we see the colours of hope.
Paul prayed for the Ephesians to fully grasp God’s love in all its dimensions (Eph 3:14-19) and to be able to see with clear vision. He longed for them to live out their faith, being fully convinced of their falling. Acts 17:24-25 and Heb 1:3 remind us that we owe our whole lives to God, who sustains us and who has reconciled us to Himself (Col 1:15-20). This reconciliation restores us (rather like the enthusiast who restores a classic motorbike to an even better condition than when it was first made!) – but we are free to choose whether we embrace the plans God has for us (Eph 2:10) or whether we ignore God’s way. God’s plan is for us to find fulfilment in Him; this restored relationship also leads us to the place of rest (Matt 11:18-20), but the choice is ours.