Lenten Devotional (31), Ephesians Chiasm & Virgil Hurt Visit
To accept one another as fellow protagonists in God’s story is to let love cover a multitude of sins and, at times, to rebuke those who sin.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience…”
Impatience stems from thinking that everything and everyone needs to follow a great script you wrote, and when people don’t follow the script as you wrote, you are justified in showing a director’s fury.
But you don’t write the script for your children and friends. God is the director of our lives. His script for our lives is from everlasting. And when we rush to anger with our fellow actors and actresses, we act as if we are self-creators of our own stories. We are supplanting God’s function in our stories as the great writer. On the other hand, patience treats others with the dignity of fellow travelers in this great cosmic narrative.
To accept one another as fellow protagonists in God’s story is to let love cover a multitude of sins and, at times, to rebuke those who sin. Patience is a call to wisdom as we accept the humanity of others but also manifest our Christian witness before the world. God writes, and we perform as image-bearers but performing is always an act of grace best served in the meal of patience.
Prayer: O Blessed Lord, you showed patience throughout your earthly life. You overthrew tables when necessary and showed care for the least of these consistently. Your heart is a heart of blessed patience with those whom you’ve chosen. Grant us the gift of waiting for you, and grant us the gift of seeing our brothers and sisters as fellow travelers in our great journey through God’s theater. We pray this through Christ our Lord, amen.
Notations
I argue that Ephesians is laid out chiastically, proving the Edenic theme and order. I’d love any feedback:
Chiasm in Ephesians
A1Chapter 1, Dominion of Jesus Over Principalities and Power
B1Chapter 2, Church Unity in Christ
C1Chapter 3, Ministry Revealed in the Ministry of Paul
C2Chapter 4, Ministry Revealed in the Ministry of the Body
B2Chapter 5, Family Unity in Christ
A2Chapter 6, Dominion of the Armored Saints Over Principalities and Powers
Edenic Order in Ephesians
Chapter 1: God’s Decrees (Before the Foundation of the World)
Chapter 2: Sonship of Adam: Living by Grace Through Faith
Chapter 3: The Proto-Euangelion (Gen. 3:15), Promise Made
Chapter 4: The Life of Eden (Communion with God)
Chapter 5: Creation of Male and Female
Chapter 6: Dominion Mandate After the Fall (Be Fruitful and Multiply & Put on the Amor of the New Adam)
Nuntium
We had a delightful weekend with Pastor Virgil Hurt, celebrating his birthday and hearing him preach to us on the Lord’s Day. Virgil is a testament to endurance and faithfulness in the ministry. After a severe heart attack some years ago, his stamina is even greater now as he serves the saints at Providence Church in Lynchburg, VA. It has been an honor to follow in his footsteps as the presiding minister of the CREC. You can hear his sermon here:
Blessings in Christ Jesus,
Uriesou Brito