Tuesday June 28, 2022

Today is Tuesday, June 28 and we are exploring chapter three of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.

I am here to meet with God. I take a few moments to still my wandering thoughts, relinquish my nagging worries and rest in the comforting presence of my Lord.

Pause and Pray

Dear Lord, I treasure these precious moments with you at the beginning of my day. I know that you are with me amid all challenges and concerns. I place complete trust in you in all the circumstances of my life. Speak wisdom and guidance to me. Amen.

I praise God for his promises and thank him for his faithfulness with the words of Psalm 145.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. Psalm 145:13-14

Pause and Pray

Paul continues with his explanation of the mystery of Jesus Christ to the Ephesians. The mystery was not revealed to earlier generations of God’s people, but kept hidden. Clues in the Old Testament abound. Prophecies indicated a Messiah would come who would suffer for all people, but that was extremely difficult to comprehend. Prophecies indicated that the Gentiles would be included in God’s promise and would share in the blessing, but that seemed impossible. God’s ways are not the ways of humanity, and God’s wisdom is far above human wisdom. The rescue plan God had for humanity in Jesus may be a stumbling block for some and seem like foolishness to others. That is the crux of divine mystery.

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:4-6

The Holy Spirit revealed the mystery of Jesus Christ to God’s apostles and prophets and through the generations handed it down to me. Millenia later, I can read Paul’s words and understand his insight into the truth of the Messiah. Paul discloses the mystery this moment – through the good news of Jesus the Gentiles are heirs together with the Jewish people. All believers whether Jew or Greek or anything else are members of one body and share in the great promise once given to Abraham. God’s promise is passed down through the centuries and fulfilled in the suffering, death and resurrection of God’s only Son who is Messiah and Lord. This promise has been given to me, I am an heir of Abraham, a child of God, and a member of Christ’s body – the Church.

Ask: How does knowing the mystery of Christ change my attitude toward life? How do I understand myself as an heir to the promise of God?

Pause and Pray

Dear God, thank you for revealing the truth of Christ to my heart. Enable me to fully understand the mystery of the promise of Jesus and what it means for my life. Give me insight in this generation that I am an heir of your kingdom, a member of Christ’s body and a sharer in the promise. Help me comprehend the glorious promise of your rescue plan for my soul. I read the words from Ephesians again and listen for the message you have for me.

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:4-6

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

I consider whether I have fully grasped the extent of God’s revelation for the world. Perhaps God wants to expand my understanding, give me fresh insight, or unveil the depth of mystery that can only be disclosed by the Holy Spirit. Maybe God wants to enlist me as an heir and help me understand the blessings and responsibilities of my spiritual inheritance. Perhaps I am not fully claiming God’s gifts in my daily life, but relying on my own abilities and living out of my own power. Maybe God wants to help me understand my role in the body of believers, highlighting my duties as well as privileges. Perhaps I have yet to discover new possibilities of the promises of Jesus.

Pause and Pray

Precious Lord, come into my heart and life and reveal the secrets and mysteries I struggle to comprehend. Help me realize the depths of your love despite my weaknesses, failures and shortcomings. Disclose the abundance of your grace which includes me as an heir to your blessed promises. Amen.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:28-29

I leave this time of prayer believing in the promises of God for me and sharing the promise of his love with others.

Amen