Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"To Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Text: Ephesians 3:21
CONCLUSION OF A GREAT PRAYER
How should one conclude prayer? Paul’s conclusion in prayer reminds us of how Jesus taught His disciples to end their prayers to God. Each prayer should end on the note of giving glory to God. Let us recall what Matthew wrote.
For Yours is the kingdom
and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
MATTHEW 6:13
THE THEME OF “GLORY”
The word “glory” features prominently in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. Let us take a quick look at how Paul expressed his consciousness of the glory of God in Ephesians:-
1. Glory associated with the grace of God (Ephesians 1:6)
2. The glory of God evidenced in redemption is to be praised (Ephesians 1:12, 14)
3. God is called “The Father of glory” (Ephesians 1:17)
4. Inheritance of the saints is called glorious (Ephesians 1:18)
5. Glory is to be given to God always (Ephesians 3:21)
THE THEME OF “THE CHURCH”
God’s glory is displayed in many ways. Some of those expressions include the following:-
1. The glory of God expressed in Nature (Psalm 19; 104)
2. The glory of God expressed in His works (Psalm 66)
Paul now adds one more thought. The glory of God is also to be seen “in the Church”. This was the special revelation that Paul received from God. The Church was the Body of Christ. It is the habitation of God Himself. Hence, the church is to be thought of as displaying the glory of God.
THE THEME OF “CHRIST JESUS”
How could sinful man be redeemed? How could this new entity called the Church be formed? How could believers become the workmanship of God?
To Paul there is only one answer. There was no greater way to conclude a prayer than to think of the central role that Christ Jesus played. To the apostle Paul, Christ Jesus must always have the pre-eminence.
And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the head of the body, the church,
who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things, He may have the preeminence.
COLOSSIANS 1:17-18