Pam Parish

This morning I’m reading and studying Ephesians 3 in which Paul opens with, “…I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles..” As I read this opening statement, I realize the depth of what he is saying. Paul calls himself a prisoner of Christ Jesus because he sees no other purpose in living his life other than the spreading of the gospel that the Holy Spirit has revealed to him. He was completely and totally dedicated to this one life purpose and nothing else… nothing…. consumed his thoughts, ever. I’m truly in awe of Paul’s dedication to Jesus Christ, it challenges me personally because he was not really unlike you and I. He never met Jesus in person although he did meet some of the disciples… actually, Paul was the most “unlikely Christian” because as a Roman citizen he was fairly wealthy, well-respected and well-known for his persecution of the Christians. Here’s a man who had literally everything to lose in following Jesus - wealth, status, respect, reputation - yet, he gave it all up and followed Christ with total abandon. He was persecuted, imprisoned, beaten and broke, yet he followed Christ and wrote more than half of our New Testament. Amazing.

Paul goes on to explain that the Holy Spirit has given him a special message, a mystery to reveal - the “mystery of Christ”. What is this mystery that had not been revealed before? That we should all, Jew & Gentile, be one in Christ - united as fellow heirs (sons & daughters) of God. God’s plan from the very beginning has always been for all mankind to be saved. After Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, all walls that divide have been torn down and now, through the Holy Spirit, we all have direct revelation of the wisdom of God - regardless of our culture, race, age or economic status. We no longer have to live in the dark, but are invited into the freedom that comes through Christ. What a marvelous God we serve who has redeemed us all into one united body with Christ as our head. Although we are all journeying on the earth, and even though we are God’s habitation of the Spirit on earth - in His mind our place is in heaven, at His side. It’s been in His plan from the beginning. How cool is that?

I want to end this with the same prayer that Paul ends this chapter, may this be a prayer for your life and mine, “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep is His love. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than me might ask of think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”

Experiencing the love of Christ,