Ephesians 3:1-21

Ephesians 3:1-21 NIV
Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles
1) For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2) Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3) that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4) In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5) which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit of God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6) This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together of one body, and sharers together in the promise of Jesus Christ.
7) I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of Gid’s grace given to me through the working of his power. 8) Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9) and to make plain to everyone the administartion of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hiddenin God, who created all things. 10) His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11) according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.. 12) In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13) I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14) For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15)from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16) I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through the Spirit of your inner being, 17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19) and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20) Now to him who is able to do imeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Devotion
Paul is writing Ephesians from prison in Rome and he asks the Ephesians not to be discouraged by this fact. Instead he writes about the mystery revealed to him by God’s grace. The mystery is that “ through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Isreal…..sharers together in the promise of Jesus Christ”. In the old testament Isaiah 11:10 scripture says “The root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him”.Thru this we can see that the coming of Christ was foretold hundreds of years earlier. What it doesn’t say is that the Jews and Gentiles will be considered as one thru Christ. Paul also is explaining that thru Christ, God’s wisdom is being revealed and that thru faith in Christ we can approach God with “freedom and confidence”.
The second part of this chapter is a prayer for the Ephesians to have a deeper experience in God’s fullness. He prays that they may be strenghtened in their faith and realize how deep God’s love is for them, “to know this love that surpasses knowledge”. There is a final reminder that our ultimate goal of our existance is to glorify God.
I admit I struggled with this chapter just to write my understanding of the passage but probably more importantly realizing that my understanding of God will never be complete because of His infinite nature, that there are mysteries while here on earth we will never know about Him. Forunately, by God’s grace thru faith I don’t need to know. His watchful, loving eye is ever present. He is sufficient for all our needs. Glory be to God.

Prayer
Heavenly Father I pray that my faith in you never fails, that I turn from the world and seek you with freedom and confidence to experience your fullness.