Ephesians Lesson 2/Day 1

Welcome to Lesson Two!

It’s 60AD. You’re gathered with a friend and your family in a small house-church on the outskirts of the ancient city of Ephesus. It’s sundown and the oil lamps around the room are beginning to cast a warm glow up the walls. Across the room, your beloved grandmother moves slowly, her long shadow moving as she stands and clears her throat. “...Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God...” your grandmother begins speaking and the group quiets down.

 You are hearing the letter of a man named Paul being read aloud. You grew up in a family that worshipped Artemis – the fertility goddess whose temple has been the center of your life for the past 20 years. Just a month ago, you heard the name Yeshua HaMashiac (Jesus the Messiah) for the first time, and you and your entire family left their idol worship and began to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. You’ve had a peace like never before, but you’ve also had questions.

 Now, hearing the opening of this letter from this famous teacher – a man you’ve never met but have only heard of his dramatic conversion from a Christian-murdering, Jew to a Christ-following missionary for The Way – you are amazed. Like him, you and your family left their former life behind. Like him, you are being ridiculed, even hated by your friends. Now, these words are ringing in your ears and buzzing joyfully in your heart...

 I was chosen?

I’m adopted? I’m a saint...a faithful saint?

I have blessings that have been lavished on me?

A man that I don’t even know is praying that the eyes of my heart would be opened to understand all this even more? Wow. Wow!

 You can hardly take it all in. Distracted for a moment by your own thoughts you bring yourself back and continue listening to Paul’s letter.

 Your grandmother, once a leader in the temple for Artemis right in the center of Ephesus, is now reading with more boldness. As her gentle, familiar voice is reading these words, you are feeling the life and power in them. These aren’t the chants you are used to hearing. These words are not the pagan songs you are used to hearing. They have joy and truth in them...

 “...God put all things under His feet...” – You can picture the enormous stone feet of Artemis and imagine the feet of the one true God in Christ Jesus crushing that idol, setting you free, and filling you “all in all” just like the words your grandmother is reading...

 These aren’t lifeless words of praise to a man-made goddess...you can feel the difference. You know you have been changed ever since you heard and accepted the good news. You’re so proud of your grandparents for risking so much and leading your family in this way. What is next? You listen on and wait for more truth to wash over you...

 Then Grandmother pauses, she seems emotional – which isn’t unusual for her these days. The joy in her is overflowing all the time either in laughter or tears of happiness and sighs of peace...but she pauses, breathes deeply and begins the next part of this letter. You can hear the words catch in her throat and you begin to well up with tears as she speaks them, your eyes watery but fixed on her loving face...

 “...and you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked...”

 Oh, the truth in those words! The tears that have been pooling in your eyes, spill down your warm cheeks. You wipe them away. Grandmother looks up, smiles knowingly at you, and continues...

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