“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”
(Ephesians 3:10)
The manifold wisdom of God is like an unlimited spectrum of colors magnificently displayed in ways no created mind could conceive. The angels, of course, know God is holy. They know He is almighty. But mercy that swallows up sin without compromising justice? Grace that takes the chief of sinners and makes him a pillar in the temple? Love that seeks out enemies and turns them into sons and daughters? These and similar realities were hidden from even the angels until they saw it happen in the church.
They looked on as Abraham was justified by faith. They watched as Israel was redeemed out of Egypt and stood amazed. But when the wall came down between Jew and Gentile, when Samaritans and Romans and barbarians and Jews started eating at the same table, singing the same psalms, kneeling at the same cross, then the angels began to understand something of the length and breadth and depth and height of the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.
So when we despise the church, we are despising the very instrument God appointed to teach the angels.[1] When we create divisions over small matters, when we refuse to forgive, when we walk away because we don’t want to compromise, we are hiding the wisdom we were meant to display.
We forget that the same beings who once asked, “Who is like unto the LORD?” are now asking, “Who is like this church?” Not because we are lovely in ourselves but because the Spirit of glory rests on us. The same Spirit who moved over the face of the waters now moves over Sunday-morning sinners and makes something beautiful out of us.
We have often acted as if the church were a nuisance instead of a wonder. We have treated the bride of Christ like a community we leave when the people get annoying. We have robbed the angels of lessons You meant them to learn. We have dimmed the light You meant to shine into the heavens. Cleanse us, remake us, unite us, and humble us so that even the principalities and powers may see in us what kind of God You really are.
Contemplations:
- I have despised Your church. I’ve complained about the church more times than I can count. The music is too loud, the preaching too long, the people too hypocritical … all while the angels are watching, waiting to learn something of God’s wisdom from this very body I criticize. Lord, forgive me. I’ve been ashamed of the very place You chose to display Your glory.
- My sin hides God’s wisdom. Every time I hold a grudge, every time I refuse to reconcile, every time I nurse bitterness instead of bearing with a brother, I pull a curtain over the manifold wisdom of God. The angels see less grace because I show less grace. When I choose to do these things I am not just hurting people, I am obscuring God.
- My small obedience teaches angels. On the other hand, when I choose forgiveness when everything in me screams for revenge, when I give generously though I’m afraid, when I speak the truth in love though my voice shakes—those moments are sermons to the heavenly hosts. The angels who never fell learn something about redeeming love when a fallen man like me gets back up and walks in the Spirit. What a wonderful privilege.
- I forget who is watching. I live as if only men can see me. I forget that every Lord’s Day, every act of kindness, every tear of repentance, every song sung with the saints is being observed by ranks of unfallen beings who cover their faces before God. They are learning patience from my trials, humility from my failures, and joy from my worship. Lord, make me aware of that audience.
Prayer (Confession)
O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who inhabits eternity and yet stoops to look upon the things that are in heaven and on earth—we come before You confessing that we have utterly failed the high calling You have placed upon Your church.
We confess that we have been proud when we should have been astonished. We have strutted around as if the church belonged to us, as if we were the ones to be consulted. We have acted like the church exists to make us comfortable instead of to make the angels wonder. Forgive us, Lord. We have been blind to the glory You have hidden in earthen vessels.
We confess that we have divided what You united. We have drawn lines where Christ tore down walls. We have preferred people who look like us, sound like us, vote like us, instead of rejoicing that Samaritans and Gentiles now call You Abba together. We have cut the one body into many pieces and then blamed each other for the bleeding. Have mercy on us. Our schisms have hidden Your wisdom from the heavens.
We confess that we have grumbled against Your people instead of giving thanks for them. We have slandered brothers and sisters behind their backs, rolled our eyes at their weaknesses, walked away when loving them got hard. We have treated the bride of Christ like a mistress we visit when it suits us and abandon when she no longer flatters our ego. O God, we have no excuse. Cleanse us from this wickedness.
We have forgotten that principalities and powers, both holy and unholy, are studying us. We have forgotten that every act of selfishness dims the light You meant to shine into heavenly places. We have forgotten that the angels who cried “Holy, holy, holy” are now learning something of redeeming grace by watching forgiven sinners stumble toward glory. We have robbed them, and we have robbed You of the praise You deserve.
We confess that we have loved the world’s applause more than heaven’s wonder. We have feared man more than we have feared grieving the Spirit who makes us one. We have been cowards when we were called to be a spectacle to angels and to men.
Father, we deserve to be cast out, silenced, forgotten. But You have not dealt with us after our sins. You have made us members of the very body through which You teach the universe Your wisdom. We do not deserve to be the canvas on which You paint such colors, yet You have chosen us. Wash us again in the blood of the Lamb. Fill us with the Spirit of the Son so that even the angels may see in us what kind of God saves sinners.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Head of the church, the One who loved her and gave Himself for her, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for Ephesians 3:10:
Eph. 1:21; Rom. 11:33; 1 Tim. 3:16; Col. 1:16
[1] William Gouge, A Learned and Very Useful Commentary on the Whole Epistle to the Hebrews (London: A.M., T.W. and S.G. for Joshua Kirton, 1655), 63.
