Undying Love

 DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

UNDYING LOVE

Eph 6:19-24

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. 23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

NIV

We thought we had concluded with this letter seeing that we need to open our mouths declaring fearlessly the mystery of the gospel. But something else came to our attention. The reason that Paul sent Tychicus was for two purposes. First to tell the believers in Ephesus everything that Paul and his companions were doing. Secondly, to encourage them. It is always good to give a testimony about how God is working in our lives, thus telling all the believers to give God all the glory. We know Paul is not a boaster about his own efforts or abilities, as we know that God still received all the glory when Paul beseeched him about the thorn in his flesh, and God told him that his grace was sufficient. Paul had learned to be content. This is a key to Christian living, to always be about giving God all the glory. When we give our testimony, when we tell people about how we are and what we are doing, it is always about giving God all the glory for we know we are not to boast about ourselves, but only boast about Jesus. The second purpose is to encourage others. We know that if we boast about our own abilities or what we are doing, without giving God all the glory, then we are not encouraging anyone, in fact, we are discouraging them for we are not testifying about how God is at work in us and how he is at work in others as well. The Christian life is about building up others, helping their faith grow, and at the same time being encouraged because they see God at work in us. But the kicker here is the very last thing Paul said to the Ephesians. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying love. We like the Greek word aftharsia which carries the meaning of incorruption, perpetuity purity, and unending existence. Undying is a good translation, but it is even more than that. Our love for our Lord Jesus Christ is incorruptible, pure, and with all sincerity, that is never-ending. In fact, because we are filled with the Spirit, which we would believe that Ephesians were, our love for Christ is inspired by the Spirit so we love Jesus just as Jesus loves us because God is loving himself. So then we can testify that our love for Jesus is because God is working in our lives, and God is recieving all the glory, even for our undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.