Ephesians 3:3-13
I can’t remember the last time I stood before a large group of teenagers and trembled… but last Sunday my hands were shaking. I could barely hold the iPad steady enough to capture the video footage that I knew would be so incredibly precious to this young couple in the years to come. In fact I wish that there had been a recording of the night when my wife and I made a similar announcement, though even now, over twelve years later, I can remember the emotion and the celebration of it all as if it had happened this past Sunday for us as well. But this time it wasn’t my news I was sharing, it was someone else’s. I think maybe that is what made it all so overwhelming. I was about to tell a room full of people a secret that I had previously been asked to keep. A secret worth celebrating. A secret that in many ways was going to change everything. And the anticipation and excitement of it had my hands and voice quivering almost uncontrollably.
Lately we have been commissioning our teenagers to help us with the usual clutter of announcements by submitting video (or allowing us to film them) in interesting locations listing upcoming information. So with an iPad held awkwardly out in front of my face I asked the entire group to help me make a video announcement, assumedly to be used in an upcoming version of these video announcements. “On the count of three we are all going to say…”
“Tristan and Hannah are pregnant.”
A moment of pause as the words sunk in. Then gasps, and smiles, and cheers. All captured by an iPad that appeared to be held by a person experiencing an earthquake.
What a gift, pure delight, to be a part of sharing a secret… to see the looks on their faces as they processed the depth of what had just been said…to know that you just participated in a moment that will be remembered as significant years and years later.
It makes you want to be part of moments like that. We really ought to be part of more moments like that. We have been invited to be part of more moments like that. It’s just that I far too often struggle to see it that way.
“In reading this then you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of God…not made known to people in other generations as it has not been revealed by the Spirit…””
The mystery? The secret now made known?
Salvation is not for the select few. God’s purpose for the world includes everyone.
What is true of the mercy of God is also true of the mission of God.
We have been given the green light to tell the secret. Paul takes the invitation personally…
“Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given to me…to make plain to everyone…this mystery.”
But just as grace is not for the select few so Paul believes that the gift of sharing that very secret is not for the select few either…
“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known…”
So how are we doing? How is the church doing in its mission to “make known?”
There is incredible joy to be found as we tremble with anticipation in the presence of those who do not yet know. I think we may be missing out.
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