Kiza Devotionals 3

Having the right access

If you are following along in your Bibles, open them to Ephesians chapter 3.

I'm going to guess that you, like myself, don't have direct access to the leaders of state. I mean, can one of you just call up the president and have him over for dinner or have a casual conversation with him? I know that here in the United States we don't even call the president by his name. Let's say Bill and Amanda on their way to vacation decide that they're going to make a stop in Washington DC and Amanda decides to call the president and the conversation goes like this, "hey Joe we're going to be in town for a little bit and we're planning on just stopping by what day works for you?" Sounds absurd doesn't it?

In other countries leaders command so much respect that it actually elicits fear from those who approach them. I can find one example in the Bible where that fear is so intense. It's the story of Esther and to give you a very brief synopsis this is a period of Israel's history after they have been taken into captivity. It is the time of the Persian kings and specifically the time of king Xerxes. Xerxes had recently suffered a terrible defeat in war and had been publicly embarrassed by his wife the queen and Esther (a Jew) had been chosen to replace his wife. Esther had learned of a plot designed to commit genocide against the Jewish nation. It was her uncle that brought this plot to her attention and begged her to go before the king for assistance.

To illustrate how terrifying it could be to approach a Persian king I'm going to read for you a short passage from chapter 3 in Esther. This was Esther’s response to her Uncle’s request to approach the king:

“All the kings officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for 30 days.”

That sounds pretty frightening to me. So when we consider the creator and ruler of the entire universe, how should we approach him? The Bible paints a very different picture from that of Esther and I want to read for you from Ephesians chapter 3. The verse I want to focus on is verse 12; however, in the original Greek, the entire section beginning with verse 3 through verse 12 is one very long run on sentence. For that reason I'm going to start there and read to this point so that we gain the context in which Paul is making his statement.

New Living Translation Chapter 3

When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles … 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

So, I’m doing a bit of digging in the original Greek and —just something funny— Paul seriously needed a grammarian. The first two verses of chapter 3 are not even a complete sentence and he has a problem with run on sentences.

Anyway, I want to hone in on verse 12, specifically 3 words in the original text (prosagoge, parassia, and pepothesis) that in English translate as “the opportunity for access”, “boldness”, and our word of the year, “confidence”.

Unlike Esther, who appeared before Xerxes trembling and probably with head bowed, Paul wants to communicate that we can approach our Heavenly Father like a child approaches a parent—without fear—and with casualness—with head raised, we can throw ourselves into the loving arms of grace.

I think it's important that people who are subject to the rule and authority of those who are in power show respect to those proper authorities. Both of my children are of the age that they are driving. One of them has earned her license, the other one is working on it. One thing I have impressed upon them is how to respond to a police officer if they are stopped while driving. I have told them that they should respond courteously and politely and do everything that the police officer asks of them.

I am also a person of authority in their lives. But there's a distinct difference in how my children approach me versus how they would respond to the police officer. My children are precious to me and should always feel that sense of casual access to me—never in fear.

Paul similarly describes our relationship to God in Galations 4:6:

English Standard Version Chapter 4

6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Abba—is the Aramaic equivalent to our “papa”, “dad”, or “daddy”. It’s the reason I lead my prayers with “Papa, God.” As children, we have intimate access to the Creator and sustainer of life. And— as is important in any relationship between a child and parent— communication is important. As Paul admonishes us to “pray without ceasing.”

So Paul finishes this chapter with a beautiful prayer for the believers that is so applicable to us today. So if you will indulge me, I want to read that as a prayer for us today.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,  the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.