Reflections Upon Paul’s Ephesians
1:15-23 Prayer – Part Two
Having
written the final disciplinary memorandum that yielded the decision to terminate
his employment, I felt absolutely no regret or guilt. He should have been fired
some time ago. The delay which created considerable legal liability for the
organization baffled me. On the night following the decision, I spent time
interceding on behalf of this man. I prayed Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. I
asked God to open the eyes of his heart to see that he had been given a chance
to liberate himself from the bondage of addiction and imprisonment to reliance
on an organization to manage his life. I hope he will see that he has become a
ward of the organization. Someone else determined his care for his basic needs.
He lacked self-reliance. At nearly forty-five years of age, he depended on them
to provide for him as if he were their underage son. Still, he has an
opportunity to regain his life and progress toward self-realization. I prayed
well into the evening and early morning that he would turn to Almighty God
instead of running toward yet another drug binge. Finally, he arrived at an
existential state in which he could be free if he would put his hope and trust
in Almighty God.
At the end
of the book of Ephesians, Paul admonishes the church. “Be strong in the Lord
and the power of His might.” I prayed that my former colleague would ask God
for the strength and courage to resist the obvious and immediate impulse
to use drugs. Would he look to God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth? Would he
humble himself and say the words of the Serenity Prayer or a very simple an
personal petition. “God, I don’t know what to do. I need your help. I do not
want to buy and use drugs. Help me to see You in this process.” That genuine
prayer would suffice to glean divine wisdom and assistance. Throughout the
night and well into the next morning, I prayed fervently that this man would
appeal to God for strength, willingness and mindset to see an open door to a
new life. Finally, he could relinquish his imprisonment and belittling
dependency upon other people. I hoped that he could imagine a life of genuine
reliance upon God. That he could begin to envision a life of self-determination.
He could embrace a way of life in which he is free to grasp the unique life
that God created him to enjoy. I prayed that God would open the eyes of his
heart to enable him to see abundant life which allows disciples to create and
contribute to the betterment of humankind to the glory of God. Until I fell
asleep, I asked God to dispatch angelic presence to this man to accompany him
through the fourth watch of the night with the hope that he would rebuff the
temptation to pursue drugs and alcohol. I sincerely hoped that he would ask God
to help him.
Within a
day of that man’s termination, another gentleman was fired. This second man had
twenty years of experience at the organization. Mild mannered and gentlemanly
in every sense of the word, he had near perfect attendance and no complaints.
Periodically, this man expressed his displeasure with the lack of a promotion
or any definitive expressions of gratitude. Unsurprisingly, he did not say
anything being the gentleman that he is. It is regrettable that the people to
whom he reported failed to value this man and his longstanding contributions to
the organization. His termination is the surest indication of their contempt
and indifference. Unjustly, they terminated his lengthy employment with a
frivolous justification. He was on vacation. The director of human resources
called him to advise him to read his email which contained official
correspondence detailing his immediate termination. The incivility of their
actions is simply astounding. Undeservedly, he accepted their decision. He came
to the office to collect his belongings and wish the people with whom he worked
well.
For him, I
prayed that God would open the eyes of his heart and reveal the new beginnings
embedded within this cruel injustice. Perhaps his previous words about
ingratitude were an indication that he should move forward professionally and
personally. Though he was not ensnared in the throes of addiction, he was
imprisoned equally to a job that held no advancement financially or
vocationally for him. He could have remained in that position for the balance
of his working years without ever receiving just compensation or recognition
for his contributions. Ironically, termination is the best outcome for some
people. Its finality compels people to examine themselves and their lives.
Otherwise, they remain comfortably on the merry go round of daily routines.
Losing a job forces you to evaluate your skills, abilities, interests and
allocation of time and energy. Introspection causes you to ask whether you are
doing what you want to be doing? Are you living your best life? Are you earning
enough money to enjoy life? Are you living the life you imagined? For this
former colleague, I suspect that he was not. I never sensed any happiness or
joy within him. He can appeal to God for guidance and assistance in rewriting
the script of his life.
Steadfastly
and genuinely, I hope both men progress to relying unconditionally and
wholeheartedly upon God’s love, grace and faithfulness. The Bible describes the
Lord’s will as “good, pleasing and perfect.” Living within His will results in
a joyous and unimaginable life. We can release the bondage of addiction or
imprisonment to paralyzing fear. Notwithstanding the stark contrast between
these men and their lifestyle choices, both are existentially incarcerated.
However, their terminations within a day of each other open the doors of their
respective lives to new and exciting possibilities. Will they be able to see
them? If they withdraw and humbly and sincerely ask for God’s help, He will
open the eyes of their hearts.
Learning of
the burgeoning faith in the Christian community in Ephesus, Paul writes to
express his exuberance. Possibly, he sees this growing group of disciples in
one of the most secular cities in the Ancient Near East as a major advancement
in the cause of Christ. Even in ruins today, Ephesus reveals the vibrancy,
brilliance, commerce, cosmopolitanism and diverse social and religious
offerings of her heyday. Were you to travel to Turkey and stand on main street,
as you view Ephesus’ impressive ruins, you can feel the energy, drama and
vitality of the city. Archeologists have unearthed multistory apartments of the
wealthy who had the equivalent of penthouses to take advantage of Ephesus’
commerce and culture. As you walk, you pass bath houses which were places of
questionable activities. There are a few temples dedicated to Hadrian, a Roman
emperor. The remaining façade preserves ornate and ostentatious Corinthians
columns. At the end of main street, the remains of the Library of Celsus stand.
The repository of tens of thousands of scrolls, this ancient library was one of
the most impressive buildings in the Roman Empire. It gave Ephesus the
distinction of being a major learning center. Interestingly, there were
underground tunnels in the library that led to brothels. Men deceitfully told
their wives that they were going to the library to read and study. A short
distance from main street, the Temple of Artemis, one of the most imposing and
impressive religious buildings in the Ancient Near East, extended the length of
three football fields. More than three hundred Corinthian, Ionic, Doric and
Composite columns adorned and upheld this formidable structure. Paul rejoices
that the cause of Christ has gained an expanding foothold in this urban center
of learning, commerce, culture, religion and governmental activity. He commends
Ephesian disciples for their faith and love of God’s people. Primarily, he
expresses his gratitude for them by consistently remembering them in his
prayers.
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