“Godly Importance”
Eph.5:8-10
9-27-2009
EPH 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. (NIV)
What is important to God? What has motivated the Almighty over the years? Why does He do the things He does or why did He do all those thing He has done in days of old? What drives Him relentlessly throughout the ages?
Paul insists that believers like you and I seek to know what it is God takes pleasure in. What seems reasonable to me is that God takes pleasure in those things being done that are important to Him. Like many of us we are pleased when the things we think are important are being done, even so with God.
So what compelled Jehovah to create? For what purpose did He make mankind in His own image? To what end? I am convinced by all that I know concerning God that He did nothing frivolous. Everything He did was done for purpose and reason even if I fail to comprehend or understand what those were.
All of you who are married, have been married or want to be some day, each of you have had a desire to want to know and understand what your spouse likes and wants. Why? Because you want to do those things that please rather than anger or disappoint, but why? Love has something to do with that does it not? There are other factors involved as well such as respect or even to some degree self centeredness – you want something in exchange.
Paul insists it is a right and good thing to pursue, this finding out what pleases God thing. So how do we do that? Scripture is a good place to look. Where else? (hint – Rom.1:18-20) The things God has created have left clues to His character and other qualities.
Paul wrote to Ephesus: Eph.1: 9 And he n made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, and Eph.3: 10 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, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The context of these passages are important; from them we learn that before the creation of the world God had already formulated his plans and set His purpose with firm resolution. Jesus dying on the cross was an integral part of His plan. Jesus’ resurrection was a needed part of the plan but not the conclusion of the plan but only a pivotal event.
Paul indicates that the result of what Jesus’ resurrection accomplished was also in this pre-creation purpose. (see Eph.1:4; Mat.25:34) Jesus was born and revealed to the world at the time God chose, just the right time and not one moment sooner or later. (Gal.4:4; Col.1:26) Each of you He has also called into His kingdom according to His own purposes at the times of His own choosing and for His special reasons. (see John 1:13; 6:44, 65 )
This is good for each and every one of us to take to heart; you are part of God’s purpose. You are important. What you are called by Him into His Kingdom for is also important. All of us who are the redeemed are His Church and as His Church we have work to do and that is important. (Eph.4:11-16 ) Why is that work so important? (the answer next week as we look at “Jesus Now” (1Cor.15:25)