Ok so I went a different route with this one then typically because of what Verse 3 said:
assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. (Ephesians 3:2, 3 ESV)
This brought my mind completely to Paul's conversion which I had not thought about in a while so I decided to go back to it because I couldn't get my mind off of the incredibly display of God's power and ability to turn around any life that is so clearly shown in the case of Paul. Yes this is a little long, but I thought it was important to see the revelation, his eyes being opened and the amazement of the Jews to see such a transformation in no time at all. So here it is from Acts 9:
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do. The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here I am, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God. And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests? But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:1-22 ESV)
I think this sequence of events is incredible enough to read. Bringing about the complete transformation of a man who was persecuting the disciples and killing to openly preaching himself. He was on his way to arrest more and then with Jesus' appearance to him everything changed. All leading up to his proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ which confounded the Jews because it was so contrary to his recent actions. This is a great example to me of the incredible power of God to work in the lives of anyone no matter how much sin they have committed or how much anger may have filled their hearts.
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
ReplyDelete(Ephesians 3:8-10 ESV)
I love how Paul tells his mission. It is to "preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." This chapter mentions this multiple times. It serves as an example of what our mission should be: to preach Christ to everyone, regardless of background, religion, or social position. Everyone. At the same time the church's mission is to make known the manifold wisdom of God. I think it is a very noble mission.
"I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ" Ephesians ch. 3 v. 7-8
ReplyDeleteNotice how Paul talks about the gospel here. First, he became a servant of it. When the good news was made known to it, he became as a slave to that good news, so that in everything he did he could work for God's will for the gospel. Second, notice the importance he ascribes to it. "Although I am less than the least of all the Lord's people..." Why would he say this? He seems surprised by the fact that someone so petty and violent and small as himself should be given this good news? Why is that surprising? Because in his mind, such great news should have a great messenger.
Clearly, Paul puts great value in this gospel. He feels unworthy of this gospel yet enslaves himself to it, and suffers for it, so that others many see the great value he puts in it. Do we value God's good news as highly as we should?
My BRP brings us to Psalms 32: 6 (ESV)
ReplyDelete[6 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah]
ESV titles this Psalm as "Blessed Are the Forgiven."
Both the Ephesians verse and the story of Saul of Tarsus becoming Paul demonstrate the amazing power of forgiveness. God through his grace forgives the man who has had His follower persecuted. I think it's amazing how God takes it several steps farther as he not only forgives Saul now Paul, but chooses him as the steward to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles and to other nations.
However, David makes it clear that being forgiven starts with us. Yes God will forgive through His grace and mercy but we must be the ones to step forward, confess, and have the iniquities of sin washed away. This is what God wants from us, for us to take the first step and then to leaving the rest in his hand. Psalm 32 actually starts out as "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." By being forgiven, we have a chance to start over, to be reborn in Christ, and to start the work that God has planned for us.
Sin is a nasty thing that keeps us from God. Being a slave to sin instead of the good news (Thank you Owen) means we are not being the best God wants for us. We are refusing God's love and forgiveness which is always there. We just have to accept it. In doing so we can look forward to great things, as Psalm 32 ends with [Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!]
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.
"Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ"
ReplyDelete(Ephesians 3:8-9
I just quickly wanted to note that Paul says he is the very least of all the saints, showing his humbleness. This is one thing I always struggle with. Especially now that I am with all these medical students who are all smart and knowledgeable, it is very difficult to be humble lay down my pride. Also, Paul goes on and talks about how God can do anything much better than we can ever imagine. So often we forget that His power, mercy, and love have no end and try to limit our God. Again, going back to medical school, everybody seems to know everything. It is really easy to just fall into that trap where people think they are in control and know more than God. What Paul says in the chapter is great in that he recognizes that he is the least of all and understand that God is in control of what we do.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3: 14-20
ReplyDeleteThis prayer for the reader is really strong. The apostle prays that the readers of the letter may deepen in their understanding of God's plan. A plan that affects the whole world. A plan of salvation in Christ with the whole breadth, length, height, and depth of God's love in Christ.
Like Paul, I pray that we can be immersed in the magnitude of God and that we can come to a fuller understanding of his plan for each of our individual lives. In this way, we can glorify God in all that we do, to the best of our abilities.
"For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-" Ephe 3:1
ReplyDelete"I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power." Ephe 3:7
So upon reading these verses, and the comments that people have made on these ideas, my initial reaction was that I didn't particularly want to be a prisoner nor enslaved, nor serve anything. Maybe its a matter of pride, but the idea never went well with me. But then you realize you're already a slave to sin (and pride). So if I had to choose between being a slave to one or the other I know I should immediately say the former but, i dont know, sin does have its allure- otherwise people wouldn't do it as much and the world would be much happier. Maybe I just think funny, but I always find excitement and fun in doing things they way they aren't supposed to be done, whether it be a neutral change, simply another way of doing things, or whether it becomes wrong; there is a certain pull to bend rules and expectations. Seems like the mentality of a child acting out, a child that lacks wisdom and needs to be brought back to the correct path. But how do you get a grown person to appreciate the gospel and want to become a prisoner of Christ, or a slave to the gospel, when they already "know" it backwards and forwards from the many sermons that have been beaten into them? Beats me, but if you figure it out then you have just saved the whole world.