Ephesians 6: 21-24 (Salutations)

            Summary:  Paul is now finishing up his letter to the church in Ephesus by giving his salutations and wishes for the church.  Eventually ending with a prayer for all the saints who love Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

            Note: Tychicus-

“Chance, an Asiatic Christian, a “faithful minister in the Lord” (Eph_6:21, Eph_6:22), who, with Trophimus, accompanied Paul on a part of his journey from Macedonia to Jerusalem (Act_20:4). He is alluded to also in Col_4:7, Tit_3:12, and 2Ti_4:12 as having been with Paul at Rome, whence he sent him to Ephesus, probably for the purpose of building up and encouraging the church there.”

 [Easton’s Bible Dictionary]

Timeless Principle: Though difficult and somewhat vague, two things might be noted from this final passage in Ephesians.  The first of these two principles can be taken from Paul’s willingness to send Tychicus to the church.  Paul is a multiplier, let it be said that the church should not be a people focused on addition but rather one that is focused on multiplication.  Time and time again Paul leads men to Christ, trains them up in holiness (discipleship), and then sends them out to do the same thing.  This is our calling to go to the upmost ends of the earth making disciples.  Paul sends Tychicus to make his circumstance, his arrest, known to the church in Ephesus but also to encourage and comfort the hearts of the church to persevere Paul has persevered. 

The final point to be drawn can be gotten out of verse 24.  Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.  Paul is praying for all the saints who what?  Love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.   The word for incorruptible maintains the idea of a love that is undying, relentless, and genuine.  Well what does a love like that look like?  Perhaps the answer is found with what it does not look like.  It does not look like the man who pays a pennies worth of pride to get a pounds worth of pride [paraphrased from Mere Christianity C.S Lewis].  God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble [James 4:6].  May we then be like Paul who decided to know nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).  Let us be humble not boasting in our understanding, especially when considering that any understanding we have no matter the size is strictly God-given.  Now let us turn to what incorruptible love does look like.  It is a love that endures through hardship and trial, one that does not waver by circumstance nor falter when attacked.  It is a love does not fail.  The best picture of this love is has only ever been seen at one place, that being the blood-stained ground of Calvary, let us stare deep into the cross and fall in love with its deadly truth time and time again.

My Prayer:  Father, I am overwhelmed by your grace.  I want to love you with a love that is incorruptible.  Father I cannot do this on my own, I beg you attack my heart with your Gospel attack my heart with your love, awaken my heart and make it warm again with a love undying.  To often I let circumstance dictate my love for you, to often I forget about Golgotha and the things that took place there for my sake.  Remind me of the grim truth that was the massacre of your son, the slaughtering of the holy lamb, the destruction of the beloved son.  Remind me of the cold that must have been felt as you turned your head away, as you denied your sons pleas in the garden before hand.  May these truths destroy my petty pride, such that I may know absolutely nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  Father I am overwhelmed by your grace undeserved.  In Christ name I beg these things, Amen.