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Lenten Observations Feb 18 2026

 I will be writing responses to succeeding verses in the book of Ephesians over the next 40 or so days until Resurrection Day. 

Ephesians, unlike Corinthians and Galatians, is not written to address a certain problem in a church. It is therefore more theological and I guess I would say positive in tone. We read of our calling and posture or placement as believers, how we exist as part of a holy temple being built to God's glory, and how nothing now should stand in the way of fellowship across cultures (focused on Jew/Gentile). 

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It starts simply. Note that Paul calls them faithful in Christ Jesus. He knew this church, or really collection of house churches, well from evangelizing there for close to two years, perhaps longer. I visited Ephesus in the fall on my trip to Turkey and it was a high point. Of course, there were several high points on that trip. One thing about Ephesus is that in Paul's time, it was right on the sea; now it is a few kilometers inland. It was a center of culture and paganism. 

To then be faithful in Christ Jesus was no small task. 

In Lent faithfulness in a small thing can lead to faithfulness in bigger ones. Luke 16:10. We order our lives around faithfulness, which is not habit but fulfilling tasks in faith that they honor God, they will be used by God, and we are in the will of God. 


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