having made known to us the mystery of His will [this past participle of revelation is the first of a series of mysteries]
according to His good pleasure (kindness) [a relative phrase of reason or causation]
which He exhibited (purposed, set forth) [referring back to the unfolding or manifestation of the grace]
in Him [the third reference to Christ as the centre of all operations]
in the administration (dispensation, plan) [a prepositional phrase referring to the magnitude of scope of the plan unfolding IN CHRIST]
at the right time (in the fullness of time) [a temporal prepositional phrase setting the time frame for the action]
to bring everything under the headship (authority) of Christ [an infinitive clause of purpose or intent; the end point]
the in-the-heaven things [a noun phrase of explanation of the “everything” referred to above]
and the in-the-earth things [the second noun phrase of explanation of the “everything” referred to above]
in Him
Ephesians 1:9, 10
We all want to know God’s specific will for our own personal lives.
- What does God want me to do?
- Where does He want me to go?
- Who does He want me to marry? Etc.
But many times those decisions God leaves to us. There are choices that He gives to us and allows us to choose within the parameters of His permissive will as some call it. There are guidelines that He lays out as principles in His Word and within those boundaries God allows freedom of choice. But there are also directions, purposes or intent God wants for us to fulfil. This some regard as His general will. His general will is in complete harmony with His Word and the principles, boundaries or guidelines He has established for life. When we operate within those principles or guidelines then there is freedom of choice for us to decide for ourselves what we do or where we go. However it has been our experience that there are times when God steps into the picture and makes his specific will clear to us. I have told you a little of that from time to time in the Gems.
Now we will look at God’s will as stated by Paul in this passage before us today. Can you detect it? It is clear what God’s will is. It is openly stated here for us. Read it again and see if you can find it.
If its a little hard to find, use the grammatical notes to help you pin point it. It is right there staring you in the face. Let me cut out the relative clauses and phrases that are in the way and obscuring the clear path to the will of God.
having made known to us the mystery of His will
to bring everything under the headship (authority) of Christ
the in-the-heaven things and
the in-the-earth things in Him (Eph 1:9)
Well there you have it. Couldn’t be clearer, could it? Now stop and think about that in the context of what you already know about the book of Ephesians. We will explore this thought in depth in the next Gem and for the rest of the book in one way or another. Does this concept, stated to be the will of God, remind you of something in the book of Ephesians? Is there a continuing theme here?
Time to ponder I think.
Look at the world & be distressed.Look within & be depressed. Look at Christ & be at rest!
Corrie Ten Boom
May you live in such a way that your death is just the beginning of your life.
Max Lucado