‘Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.’ Ephesians 1:15-23(NLT)
If you have ever struggled with worry or been overwhelmed by some sort of problem, someone might have tried to encourage you with, ‘God is in control’. What this phrase has come to mean is that we can trust God in every circumstance because he is not distant; rather, he cares for us and is not surprised by our circumstances. But, we might consider that God is not controlling, but rather that he is in command.
The Apostle Paul tells us that the crucified Messiah was raised from the dead and now reigns from the place where God dwells (1.20). Jesus, the one true King, is above all rule, power, authority, and dominion, both now and forevermore (v 21). This is good news for today because, by the Spirit, Jesus continues to renew his world by making it part of his gentle, just, and saving rule.
The Christian message is about God coming to take charge as he calls and equips his followers to participate in the work of new creation. The Lordship of the risen Jesus and his presence in the world by the Spirit means that real and lasting change is possible as renewed humans become persons of Good News andGood News carriers. The Gospel creates possibilities for genuine humans to be agents and signposts in God’s world, proclaiming the welcome announcement of the Kingdom of God on earth as in heaven.
As such, we are called to be artists, musicians, writers, singers, dancers, preachers, teachers, comforters, and justice and peacemakers. God’s rule in and through his ‘Kingdom people’ produces the beauty of new creation in the world that announces: Jesus of Nazareth, crucified and raised from the dead, now glorified as King, seated at God’s right hand, and one day returning to fully complete what he began.
When the Gospel takes root in us, this Good News goes deep into our hearts and minds, truly making all the difference in the world as it influences how we think, make personal decisions, endure hardships, or navigate conflict. Our worries and problems can become part of the tapestry of God’s work to recreate his beautiful world, as we pray and lend our energies to his good purposes to flood all of creation with the beauty of Easter morning. Jesus our King is the true Good News for every person in the whole world.
Question to consider:
How does the Apostle Paul describe the news of what happened in Jesus according to Ephesians 1:15-23?
Living it out:
How does this Gospel message announce good news for today in your own life, family, church, workplace, or community?
from Simply Good News: The Welcome Announcement of Jesus the King