| “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” |
| —Ephesians 3:12 |
Have you ever been in the presence of someone you felt was really important? At one time or another in our lives, we all have met someone who has significant importance. As a small child, did your teacher send you to see the Principal of your school? Maybe you went to a book signing of a favorite author. Or, perhaps you had a backstage pass to meet your favorite musician, or actor, or dancer. Perhaps you met a famous preacher, or scientist, or educator, or politician.
When individuals are really important to us, they tend to inspire awe. The dictionary describes the word “awe” this way: “a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.” That awesomeness affects the way we approach such a person.
No one in heaven, or on earth, is more awesome than God. Even if you set aside for a moment the great mystery that He is One God existing at the same time in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—God’s awesomeness is unparalleled. God is the One who created all things. He is the One who breathed the breath of life into the human form He created, giving that lump of clay life and turning the dust of the ground into a living being. He is the One who placed the planets into orbit and with the sweep of His hand commanded the stars in the universe to appear. Notice the conclusion the Apostle Paul reaches, as you carefully read what he wrote in Ephesians 3:1-12:
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
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, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
So you see, dear ones, while God certainly blows the top off the chart that measures “awesomeness,” through faith in His Son, we may approach God with the confidence that He eagerly waits to welcome us into His divine presence. Because He has initiated the forgiveness of our sins through the shed blood of His one and only Son, Jesus, God has adopted us as His children and made us a part of His divine and everlasting Kingdom. Why did God do this for us? Because He loves us with His everlasting love. Before the foundation of the earth, He has chosen us to belong to Himself, now and forever.
Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, April 8, 2015
