Theme of the Week: Who You Are – Characteristics of our Identity in Christ
Bible Verse: 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. Ephesians 1:8-10
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3-10
Have you ever been part of a dysfunctional team? Or maybe just a team that couldn’t seem to get on the same page with either goals or strategy? Pretty frustrating. When there is dysfunction and non-cooperation, competing agendas, mismatched strengths and weaknesses, the frustrating results are obvious not just to the team, but to everyone watching.
Compared to the smooth and efficient efforts of a team that is in sync and pulling together, a dysfunctional team would be laughable, if it weren’t so sad. How often do you feel that life is out of sync? That things just seem to be at odds with each other and there is no real way to reconcile them?
It wasn’t always this way. When God created everything, it was in perfect harmony. It was shalom. The meaning of shalom is that everything is balanced and working together for mutual benefit. Everything in the garden of Eden was just as it should be so that there was balance and harmony. Then sin broke everything apart. Everything quickly went out of balance.
However, God is in the business of restoration. This is true not just on an individual level, but on a cosmic scale. His program of redemption encompasses everything in the universe. He is bringing everything back into unity under Christ. We are a part of that redemption program. We are part of a grand plan that God is working out through the work of Jesus.
For our own part, we can strive for unity in our own small and large ways. But God is doing something Bigger, he is doing something with cosmic ramifications. He will not allow sin to have the final word or to claim possession of even a sliver of what is His. He is redeeming “all things in heaven and on earth” and bringing them into unity, harmony. You and I are a part of that.
Prayer: God, thank you that you will not allow sin to win. That your program of redemption and unity encompasses all things. Thank you that you have made me a part of that plan and have given me a place in your family.
Reflect: How might you need to think of yourself as part of a larger plan that God has going on? In what area might you be focused too narrowly on yourself and need to ask God for a bigger picture?
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