And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” vss. 22-23
Ephesians 1:15-23
From the beginning, the church formed by the followers of Jesus has been understood to be the Body of Christ. We’ve grown accustomed to that designation and have come to take it for granted, but it really is an audacious claim. We are saying that people of faith, saints and sinners alike, are collectively the presence of the eternal Christ in the world today. Of course God exists apart from the church–there is no part of the universe in which God is not present. But the church is the present incarnation of God in the flesh. We are Christ to the world, and more particularly, the recurring presence of Jesus in the world. In us the world sees the sacrificial love of God, and experiences the healing hands of Jesus. At least that’s how it is supposed to be. Because there is great power in the church, rulers and politicians are continually trying to use it for nationalistic purposes. But the true Church of Christ transcends national and political boundaries and works across party lines to promote justice and peace for all people. Like Jesus, it speaks the truth to power and reaches out to lift up the poor and the hungry. It’s a blessing to be a part of the Body of Christ–may we remain faithful and vigilant!
Thought for the Day: Why does the Church need to be vigilant?
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