Week 5 | Wednesday
Wednesday – Eternal Purpose & You
Written by Tricia Fourman (Jefferson Campus)
Ephesians 3:10-13
Key Verse:
“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, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Perhaps you’ve heard this story or one similar. A teacher visited three classrooms and asked students what they were doing. In the first room, a student said, “Taking notes.” In the second, another replied, “Getting good grades.” But in the third classroom, a student looked up with bright eyes and said, “Learning to change the world!” All three were sitting in math class, but only one was living in light of a bigger picture.
Sometimes I wonder, “How do verses like these relate to people who are struggling with troubled marriages, worried about paying bills, or just trying to survive finals week?” Thinking about God’s eternal purpose may be interesting for pastors and theologians, but how does it help people who wrestle with the ordinary challenges that life throws at them?
Paul wrote to the Ephesians to help ordinary believers understand God’s eternal purpose for the church. While the world prioritizes issues like global conflicts, terrorism, and economic concerns, and even Christians often marginalize the church’s importance, God’s primary focus and eternal purpose centers on Christ and His church.
Many of us don’t commit ourselves fully to the local church because we get too focused on our individual lives, and like the first two students in the story above, we don’t see the big picture. The church is at the center of how God wants to change the world. It is His eternal purpose to display His manifold wisdom through the church. We should respond by committing ourselves to it and praying for God to use it mightily. We should be willing to endure hardship to see it become all that God wants it to be.
Reflection Questions:
- How would this church be different if we all focused on God’s eternal purpose?
- Which student do you most identify with right now in your approach to church involvement? Are you simply “taking notes” (going through the motions), “getting good grades” (focusing on personal benefits), or truly understanding your role in God’s bigger purpose to change the world through the church?
- How can you commit to pray for our local church and the global church?
Prayer Prompt:
“Father, help our church focus on your purpose. Show me my part to play.”