Touch

Last Sunday our talk at Westside was entitled “Touch”, the third instalment in “The Rumour” series. What began in the eternal mind of God (Ephesians 1, “Whisper”), took root in the historical and tangible events of Jesus and his church (Ephesians 3, “Glimpse”), is now open for us to enter as our way of life and experience (“Touch”). To touch something is to personally experience it for oneself. Let’s consider how Ephesians 3 invites us to do that.

Paul is actually beginning to pray in v. 1, when he decides that he needs to fill in a few more details for his readers. In other words, vs. 2-13 is actually a digression. And, as most of us have come to experience, digressions can be wonderfully illuminating. And so, before Paul prays, he wants his audience to know what they are praying for, and with what hope they can pray.

Paul points out that the gospel has brought together that which was formerly separated, that there is a healing in the world begun through Jesus. Now, says Paul, two groups of people hopelessly at odds with each other – Jews and Gentiles – are now “heirs together”, “members together”, and “sharers together”. And this is a sign that the whole of the cosmos has begun to heal. The first place this takes root is within the community of Jesus (however imperfect). It is Paul’s calling to make this message plain to everyone (v.9), with the hope that as they gain understanding they will also move closer to God.

I sometimes think that greatest enemy of prayer is the smallness of our understanding. Or, to put it differently, when we know little we pray little. One way to understand prayer is that it is our reflex response to a greater understanding of God. So, what could happen if we were given more insight into the mystery of life? What if we got an inside peak on God’s plans? Would we be inspired to pray? That is what this text is seeking to do.

In v. 14, then, Paul actually does get to his prayer. And what is the prayer about? Simply that each one would know for themselves this faith and hope, that each one would touch it for themselves. He says, “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Eph 3:17c-19)

Here is an idea: for the next few days, try carrying this prayer with you and rehearsing quietly in the different places you find yourself. See if you are able to touch something that you never touched before. See if this prayer doesn’t bring you further into this wonderful mystery that is “Christ for us”.

This Sunday our talk will be called “Decide”, our take on Ephesians 4. Join us at 9:29 or 11:11 if you can; or tune into the podcast through the week.

Bob-O