288. Friday after Fifth Sunday after Trinity.
Lord, enlighten us
by thy Spirit. Amen.
Ephesians 3, 5-12. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known, by the church, the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
❦
According to an eternal purpose God has redeemed the world, both Jew and gentile, by his only begotten Son; and it is in accordance with the same purpose that he leads peoples and individuals. The whole history of the church (and the history of the world as well) is a revelation of God’s purpose in Christ. When he first lets the gentiles go their own ways, and then accepts them, but hardens the hearts of the Jews, yet without casting off his people; when he sends the gospel to the Orient and the Occident, to the frozen North and to the lands farthest south, everywhere with life and light and healing for the souls; this is a revelation of his eternal purpose in Christ. And when the word of the cross, which is to the Jews a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness, transforms the world, overthrows the temples of idolatry, drives out devils, teaches men to lead saintly lives and die blessed deaths, and also to dwell happily in their earthly fatherland; when he for these purposes employs the most humble instruments, chooses the foolish things of the world, and things which are despised, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; when he leads the church and its individual members to the goal by ways past finding out, down into the deep in order to lift them up, and into the midst of death in order to give them life; — all these things reveal the same eternal purpose in Christ, and glorify him in heaven and on earth. — God has created all things by Jesus Christ, and to him. All things which are, and everything that comes to pass, are for the sake of Christ’s office as the Savior; and all are to reveal the glory of God in the church. Even the principalities and powers in heavenly places serve this purpose, and thus gain a deeper insight into the eternal nature of God, into the infinite depths of his wisdom and mercy, into the unity of the Father and Son and Spirit, and into the connection between the works of creation and redemption and sanctification. We have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh” (Hebrews 10, 19. 20); and thus we even in this life begin to stand before the throne day and night. Paul is overwhelmed by the greatness of God’s mercy to man, and is sensible of being less than the least of all saints, altogether unworthy to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. If Paul was less than the least, what shall we say of ourselves?*
He pardons all thy sins;
Prolongs thy feeble breath;
He healeth thine infirmities,
And ransoms thee from death.
Then bless his holy name,
Whose grace hath made thee whole,
Whose loving-kindness crowns thy days:
Oh, bless the Lord, my soul!
[ELH 369; same tune as TLH 27, LSB 814; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.