“I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe.”

Ephesians 1:18-19

Paul opens his letter to the church in Ephesus praising them for their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all people (v15) and he gives thanks for them (v16). But then he asks that their minds be opened so they can know:

• The hope to which God has called them
• The blessings God promises them
• The power of God at work within them

So even though Paul was praising them for their faith, it looks as if he was telling them that they had much more to learn. And I’m sure they did have much more to learn…as do we.

The author of a recent Bible study lesson wrote the following: “No matter how spiritually mature we become, there is more of God to know. The more we grow in God, the more we will come to appreciate all that we have been given in Christ and all that we stand to inherit when Christ comes again.”

No matter how spiritually mature we become, there is more of God to know. This might contradict the way we usually learn about something. In academia, we study so that we can become more proficient, more accomplished in a topic or field of study. One can find an expert in any subject simply with a Google search. 

And of course, there are Bible scholars and theologians who have spent their lives studying God and they know a great deal about God. Isn’t that why many folks come to Bible study or Sunday School week after week, to learn more about God?

But who among us can claim to be an “expert” on God? That was a major issue between Jesus and the religious leaders of his day. They seemed to think they had it all figured out. I have told friends that if anyone ever tells me that he/she “has arrived” when it comes to knowing God, I will run in the other direction. 

On the other hand, how refreshing it is to approach learning about God in terms of “there is always more of God to know.” It’s what keeps us coming back for more. It keeps us engaged in discovery. It keeps us focused on “what’s next” when it comes to our relationship with God–both individually and as a church body.

In so many ways, God is inexhaustible.

Grace and Peace

Chuck