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This morning's reading was from Ephesians 3:1-21:
Through the gift of reading and studying God's Word, we are blessed in knowing how some, like Paul, received special insight into the mysteries of Christ Jesus. We read how Paul was one, like Peter, to understand that God wanted all people, Gentiles included, to know they mattered to God, and were heirs along with the Jews, in the promise of Jesus (read Acts 10).
Though Paul considered himself least among all of God's people, he knows that he was called to preach because of God's grace, and even now, while imprisoned, he was still a recipient of that grace, which he used to share these words found in this chapter of his epistle. Paul understood his role as preacher to be the one who shared with all who would hear him, the wonderful, immeasurable riches of Christ Jesus. He knew that folks needed someone to preach to them how the Good News was meant for them, and that, through Jesus Christ, we all have access to God, free and clear. Paul wanted all to be always encouraged in their faith.
Paul was a man of prayer, kneeling daily before God, asking for others. He set a model for our prayer life, in which we should pray for all people, especially those inside and outside the church. Paul recognized the power of God and so should we; knowing that for Paul, God was so awesome he says, "from Whom all in heaven and on earth derive their name," and he asked that all believers be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit living in them. We, too, should pray this for ourselves and for those in our lives. Paul prayed that Christ would indeed dwell in their hearts through faith. His desire was to see believers rooted and established in love, with power to truly understand how awesome was the love of God for them and us. Paul said it was beyond measure; so high, so wide, and long, and deep, that we cannot begin to understand it. One preacher once said it was like coming to the ocean with an empty soda can and trying to fill it with water from the ocean and believing we had enough in that can to truly understand the awesomeness of the oceans. We should pray and live so that all honor and glory be given to God who is at work in us.
EAT-TO-YOUR-FILL PRAYER: For those called to be your preachers and teachers, loving God, fill with Your grace. For those called to be servants of Your kingdom, also fill with Your grace so that the work to which they were called be made plain and clear: That You love us all through Jesus Christ, Whom we preach and share as we live. May our prayers be prayers of faith and hope asking that we might make clear the awesomeness of God's love. That love is higher, deeper, wider, and longer than we can ever imagine. To You, loving God, be all honor and glory, amen.
