God Drives a Hemi

God Drives a Hemi:

I absolutely love what Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:10 about his becoming a servant of the gospel of Jesus... "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms...” God’s ‘manifold wisdom’ has nothing to do with automobile exhaust systems or Hemi’s.

We (as the body of & bride of Christ - the Church) not only have an earthly ministry to bring the gospel (i.e. Good News of redemption, salvation, reconciliation, and eternal life in Christ) to all the nations, peoples, clans, and families of the earth, but the Church also reveals God's copious, abundant, vast wisdom "to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms."

Paul didn't say that God's manifold wisdom would be revealed in the heavenly realms through your personal ministry, your philanthropy, your good works, through my blog, through religious formalism, or para-church organizations... but through the church - and within the context of Ephesians and the New Testament – that happens EXCLUSIVELY through our unity. Our unity is so critically important that Jesus prayed to the Father for it in John 17:20-23.

Are you being built-up (edified) spent for the mission of God through your investment & intimate identification with the local church - or is that something you've left to someone else - rationalizing it away by saying, "I don't have the time, the training, or the skills to be useful." Neither does anyone else - that's why His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9). Everyone is called to serve - that's inherent, a given, as a Christian.

Quit with the excuses and get involved with your local church.

There is nothing apart from Christ’s Church that reveals the manifold wisdom of God in the heavenly realms and brings salvation to the ends of the earth. God doesn’t give out participation ribbons – you’re either obedient to His word or you’re not. Showing up on Sunday only to be served is what infants do. That’s being a spiritual parasite. That’s not being a disciple of our God who died to redeem you.

Go to church. If there isn’t a solid one around then maybe God is calling you to plant one. Make a commitment and become an active contributing member. Serve others for the purpose of unity and maturity; and as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:14,“Then we will no longer be infants...”

That’s the manifold wisdom of God.

Okay, so maybe God doesn't drive a Hemi.

Blessings,
-Kevin