Our faith can become very self-centered and selfish. We "pick" a church to go to based on whether we like the singing or the style of teaching, or because or friends go there or they have a well-known preacher. We like the benefits of our salvation (eternal life, forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit) but we don't always like the sacrifice that this requires of us. We complain about attending worship; we're too tired to pray; and the Bible is too difficult to read.
But in the Bible our faith is not about us, it's about God. This is especially so in the opening section in Ephesians (1:3-14). There, Paul focuses on the reality of our spiritual experience--and demonstrates that it is rooted in God's grace, for God's glory, not for our own preferences.
Paul lists six "benefits" we receive because of God--God has blessed us, he chose us, he predestined us for adoption as his children; in Christ he redeemed us, he gave us an inheritance, and he sealed us with the promised Holy Spirit. While we receive benefits from this, the purpose is for God's glory to be praised.
God's glory is praised by our proclamation, both in speech and deed. This is the fulfillment of Old Testament promises where Israel was to be the light that drew in all nations to God's glory (Isaiah 49:1-7; 60:1-3). Yet, this fulfillment comes in Christ and carries through to us who are "in him."
We can be self-centered or God-centered, but not both. God's glory needs to be reflected and we can reflect it. In Ephesians, Paul teaches that God's glory can be reflected in our prayers (1:15-23; 3:14-21), in unity (ch 2), in maturity (ch 4) and in our household relationships (5:22-6:9).
What would be different if you changed your focus from self to God? How would that change the way you worship (or even the content of your worship)? How would it change your relationship with others, both in and out of the church, knowing that each relational interaction provided you with an opportunity to reflect and give praise to God's glory?
But in the Bible our faith is not about us, it's about God. This is especially so in the opening section in Ephesians (1:3-14). There, Paul focuses on the reality of our spiritual experience--and demonstrates that it is rooted in God's grace, for God's glory, not for our own preferences.
Paul lists six "benefits" we receive because of God--God has blessed us, he chose us, he predestined us for adoption as his children; in Christ he redeemed us, he gave us an inheritance, and he sealed us with the promised Holy Spirit. While we receive benefits from this, the purpose is for God's glory to be praised.
God's glory is praised by our proclamation, both in speech and deed. This is the fulfillment of Old Testament promises where Israel was to be the light that drew in all nations to God's glory (Isaiah 49:1-7; 60:1-3). Yet, this fulfillment comes in Christ and carries through to us who are "in him."
We can be self-centered or God-centered, but not both. God's glory needs to be reflected and we can reflect it. In Ephesians, Paul teaches that God's glory can be reflected in our prayers (1:15-23; 3:14-21), in unity (ch 2), in maturity (ch 4) and in our household relationships (5:22-6:9).
What would be different if you changed your focus from self to God? How would that change the way you worship (or even the content of your worship)? How would it change your relationship with others, both in and out of the church, knowing that each relational interaction provided you with an opportunity to reflect and give praise to God's glory?
