Bible Reading: Ephesians 1:3-23 #

Key Verse:

Ephesians 1:9-10 — He did this when he revealed to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ – the things in heaven and the things on earth.

The Magnificent Christ as Described in Ephesians 1 #

Paul provides a magnificent depiction of Christ in the first chapter of the book of Ephesians. It is through Him that God brings everything—times, places, and realms—to their ultimate purpose. He reveals Himself to be the One who existed before creation, the source of all spiritual blessings, and the One through whom God brings everything to its completion. This image of Christ is expansive, all-encompassing, and remarkable in its scope.

What Importance Does the Majestic Christ Have for Us? #

Does this exhaustive picture of Christ have any bearing on the way we do things in our everyday lives? Does the presence of this Christ play a significant role in the difficulties, choices, and routines that we encounter?

Bringing Our Lives in Line with Christ #

There are times when we want God to be relevant to us, and we want to mould Him to meet our goals. Paul, on the other hand, urges us to change our viewpoint and to fit our lives by Him.

Christ is the beginning and the end; he is the starting point and the conclusion. These facts ought to have a profound effect on us. We will not be able to completely hand up control of our life to Christ until we have realised that nothing outside of Christ counts.

In the passage from 2 Corinthians 5:14–15, Paul wrote:

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 — “For the love of Christ governs us, because we have arrived at this conclusion: since one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, so that those who live may no longer live for themselves but for him who died and was risen for their sake,” the Bible says.

The Magnificence of Jesus Christ #

Paul struggles to find adequate words to describe the greatness of Christ. His vision of Christ is so vast that human language falls short. Is our vision of Jesus similarly breathtaking? Or do we reduce Him to someone small and manageable—focused only on making our lives easier?

Avoiding an “Altar Jesus” #

The Old Testament mentions “altar gods,” small idols kept in homes for good luck and prosperity (Judges 17). These idols were portable and designed to fit into the lifestyles of those who worshipped them. Sadly, many today perceive Jesus in the same way—as someone who meets particular goals, fits perfectly into their plans, and remains in His place.

The True Jesus #

This is not the Jesus of Scripture. The Jesus of the New Testament is the One who existed before all things and keeps all creation together.

Colossians 1:17 — “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

What a powerful statement!

Isaiah 66:1 — This is what the LORD says: “The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I will rest?

He does not conform to us; rather, we conform to Him. This is the actual Jesus. When we have a personal relationship with Christ in His true form – in reality, in the spirit, we then realise that our lives are His and intended to be utilised for His purpose and glory. Because we are a part of His Body, He can relocate us to any chosen location and use us for His glory.

Will You Take the True Christ as Your Saviour? #

Paul introduces us to Jesus, the supreme ruler over all of creation. This Jesus does not invite us to a straightforward and comfortable religion; rather, he summons us to a life of total dedication to His glory. The dilemma remains: Will we embrace Christ as He is, or will we settle for a lesser, less demanding version?

Let us open our hearts to Christ and let His purpose guide us so that he can lead and alter our lives.

Blessings,

Shaliach.