According

“In all wisdom and insight, He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention”  Ephesians 1:8-9

According – Sometimes the smallest words carry very big loads.  In the New Testament, prepositions are tiny words with tremendous significance.  This preposition, kata, is no exception. 

When you think about the meaning of “according”, what circumstances come to mind?  Do you think about comparing documents to show that one agrees or depends on another?  Do you think about showing how one thought is derived from another thought?  Do you think about behavior demonstrating the norm of rules?  That’s the kind of meaning that is attached to kata in this verse.  It indicates that the description that follows (God’s kind intention) is the standard that governs the previous thought.  In other words, God made His will known to us because it is His nature to be kind.  He could have withheld this knowledge but He didn’t.  His love determined that He would let us know what’s up.

When we struggle with knowing God’s will, this verse tells us that we can have complete confidence that God has already revealed what we need to know.  Why?  Because God loves us.  He is not a god who withholds what we need.  He is not a god who plays games with us.  He is the God of love and that means that everything needed to enjoy fellowship with Him and follow His path is guaranteed by God to be shown to us.  God has already done His part.  He hasn’t hidden anything necessary.  The truth is this:  if we are confused about God’s will, we just haven’t taken seriously what He has already revealed.  We have forgotten how much He loves us.

Do you remember the parable about parental gifts?  Jesus says, “Would you give your child a stone if he asked for bread?  Would you give your little girl a snake if she asked for some fish to eat?”  Of course you wouldn’t!  Then Jesus says something very important (something we often overlook).  “If you being evil” know what giving a good gift means, how much more do you think God understands giving?  That’s a wake up call.  If evil people can still give good gifts, do you doubt for a second that a loving and perfect God won’t give all that you need?  Absolutely not.  It’s all according to His kind intention.