Devotionals for March 21, 2024
We have Theology Thursday today at noon. Join us!
READ
Ephesians 3:6-11
6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise of Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 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.
8 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,
9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise of Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 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.
8 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,
9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,
REFLECT
To a first-century Jew, Paul’s words would have been scandalous. Our Western eyes often scan apathetically over words that were written to widen them. For context, Paul saying that the “Gentiles are fellow heirs…” was ludicrous to a Jewish reader. Recall that “heir” refers to inheriting the Promised Land, something explicitly reserved for the Jewish people of God. To include the Gentiles in the family of God and “partakers of the promise” did not sit well with Judaic sensibilities. In other words, Paul could (and likely would) be accused of being too inclusive in his day. His inclusivity, resting on the work of Christ and the gospel, was an offense to those who wanted to shut the doors of the kingdom to “outsiders.” Paul magnifies the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural church as that which reveals the “manifold wisdom of God.” There is some criticism in certain Christian circles today about the attention given to culture, ethnicity, and race. If anything, the criticism should be that not enough attention is given to it. To be “color blind” is to blind oneself to the beauty of the Kingdom people; a people of every tribe and tongue.
APPLY
Q: What is Paul saying about the nations?
Q: Where in your life do you need to notice and celebrate culture?
Q: Who in your life can you fellowship with on a cultural level?
Q: Where in your life do you need to notice and celebrate culture?
Q: Who in your life can you fellowship with on a cultural level?
SING
“Good Grace” by Hillsong United
PRAY
"Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us."
Lord, forgive our flippancy about others who do not look like us. Help us to see the heinousness of a flippant attitude toward your children. Amen.
Lord, forgive our flippancy about others who do not look like us. Help us to see the heinousness of a flippant attitude toward your children. Amen.