Reflections based on Ephesians 2:10–22.

This passage builds on what we were learning last time – that God’s hope is for everyone and that that hope is revealed through the Church.

Ever since I became a Christian in childhood I have been taught that we, God’s people, are God’s plan A for reaching the world, and that He has no plan B! Indeed, the phrase ‘The local church is the hope of the world’ is used a lot by preachers and teachers. It is so true that, as long as the Church is working as it should, it reveals a real depth and beauty – because it has the fragrance of Christ.

Our passage talks about us being part of a much bigger thing; a building God has fashioned for Himself. The apostles and prophets were the foundation, Jesus the chief cornerstone and all of us join together to be the holy temple in which God lives. Wow. It is no longer about ecclesiastical buildings but simply through the way we live that we reveal to the world that each one of us can have His Spirit dwelling inside of us.

While pondering this passage, I came across the following quote from C.S. Lewis: ‘The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply, a waste of time.’ There is certainly plenty of food for thought contained in there!

For prayer and reflection: Spend some time thanking God in your own words that He has chosen the Church to be His vehicle to reveal Himself to the world.