"Understand. . .Christ. . fills all things everywhere with himself"

Eph. 1:18-23 NLT

     18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
     19    I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.  21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.  22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.  23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

In previous passages we have studied this same theme-- that Christ is the all powerful of the universe-- very God, as well as Perfect Man. We have seen, before, what Paul tells the Ephesians here, that those who choose to believe by faith can have 'confident hope.' You in whom the faith of Christ lives, do, indeed, have confident hope as it says in verse 18. The faith that God causes to grow within us causes us to become Christ's inheritance. We-- the accumulated believers in Christ in all our formal and informal groups, form Christs Body And that body is destined to be made 'full and complete by the Lord. Because he 'fills all things everywhere'  (vs 23) then he will make the church powerful. It seems to many of us in these days that the church is week but that is because we look only at our local organization or congregation.

The body of Christ is not my congregation or yours. It is the collective of all who have laid down self preference and taken up God's will and preferences. Members of congregations may not be members in the body unless they have said an obedient and submissive "Yes" to Christ's lordship over all things. This is more than words, and is seen in actions. Those actions are in the very image of Christ himself-- done with unconditional love and service to others. Such service is not the fruit of our own effort but the result of "the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him" (vs 19). Therefore, nothing should disturb you this day because you are submitted to Him and His will for all that you should do or say. Rejoice in His greatness within you and allow it to impact others with His love.

Dan
drdanelliott@gmail.com