Ephesians 3:1-21

We have many reasons to worship God.  It is what we were created to do, but we often become so distracted by the activities of each day that we tend to become self absorbed and neglect to make God the focus of our lives and the object of our worship.  There is nothing like the Gospel to call us back from the tedium of our lives on earth to the glory of our eternal God.  In this passage Paul is bowing his knees in an act of worship before God as he reflects on the glory of the Gospel.

PAUL WORSHIPS FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF MAKING THE GOSPEL KNOWN: Paul never seems to quite grasp how God could possibly use him to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentile nations.  He urges his readers to reflect on the great gift that God has given us to be able to be members of body of Christ.  This was a great mystery to those who were Gentiles in the time of the Old Testament.  This is exciting news!  God's plan of redemption is an amazing gift and it is such an honor to be able to announce this Great News to the nations.  Any doctor would be honored to be able to announce to the world that he had discovered the cure to cancer.  God has revealed to us the cure of the disease of sin which is far more deadly than cancer.  We should announce this message with grateful hearts and worship God for the honor of proclaiming this glorious message.

PAUL WORSHIPS GOD FOR THE POWER THAT COMES FROM KNOWING THE GOSPEL: Paul prays that his readers will know the Gospel of Christ fully that they might experience the true power that the Gospel produces in the lives of those who believe.  We have been given the power to overcome sin.  The Gospel has made in possible for Christ to dwell in our hearts.  This is an astounding accomplishment and it provides us with a supernatural source of strength.  Unfortunately, we seldom use this power to its greatest potential.  Paul calls us to recognise the preciousness of the power of Christ that is available to us and then to live in light of that glorious gift.  He truly is worthy of worship for the amazing power He provides to us through the Gospel of Christ.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than a...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more