Living in the Spirit
July 13, 2018
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory. –Ephesians 1:11-14
Somehow over the years, Christianity has morphed into an individual-oriented faith. We are all about being saved ourselves and leading other individuals to be saved, becoming a rather elite self-identified group of individuals. The Hebrew prophets spoke first of the salvation of the Hebrew people and eventually migrated to the recognition of the universal salvation of all of God’s children. Jesus picked up this theme and Ephesians continues it as it talks about the redemption of God’s own people.
One could argue that if all individuals are saved all of God’s people are redeemed and that is true, but it misses the point. Individual salvation is a means to the end of the creation of a world ruled by love. Individual salvation is not an end unto itself. It is the means to an end.
I was reminded of the parable of the lost sheep* as I followed the rescue of the Thai soccer team from a flooded cave. The rescue took hundreds of people from many nations with special skills to save twelve boys and their coach. One man gave his life in the rescue. Uncountable people from various faith groups around the world were praying for all involved. I can imagine Jesus smiling down on that whole process.
Prayer: God who is Love and the Source of all Love, thank you for your presence with the Thai soccer team and with all those who as one entity worked to save them. Let that be a reminder of the power of oneness and love. Amen.
*See Luke 15