Ephesians 3:8-9 - Just think! Though I
did nothing to deserve it, and though I am the most useless Christian
there is, yet I was the one chosen for this special joy of telling
the Gentiles the Glad News of the endless treasures available to them in
Christ; and to explain to everyone that God is the
Savior of the Gentiles too, just as he who made all things had secretly planned
from the very beginning.
Paul was in jail...yet he continued to encourage others to
share the great power and confidence the gospel could give them. He did not
worry about how God was working through him from jail…and he did not worry
about the timing of God’s plan. He allowed
himself to be used no matter where…no matter what circumstances he found himself
in.
He was amazed by how God had even chosen him to be a vessel
of service for Him. He voiced his deep amazement in verse 7…saying “God has given me the wonderful privilege
of telling everyone about this plan of his; and he has given me his power and special
ability to do it well.” Paul drew special power and contentment from
this calling… it helped him to rest in God and not worry about his present
circumstances.
God has called
each of us that chose to believe in him to special service. Paul had
already told them in Ephesians 2:10 ….“we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would
walk in them.” Now Paul reminds them that God’s power and love reach farther
than our finite minds can fathom. Verse 16 says… “ that
out of his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you the mighty inner
strengthening of his Holy Spirit.”
I love the way
Paul describes an infinite space that reaches farther than we can imagine in
depth…. In width… in height… or in breadth. I couldn’t say it any better than
verses 18-19…. “and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s
children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is;
and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will
never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will
be filled up with God himself.
I need a reminder
of that power and love every day. I also
need a reminder that I have been called to special service. That reminder will
carry me through the days when I feel unused…. undeserving… and powerless
against the days problems. Instead of
worrying or letting my countenance drop in defeat… I need to raise my voice in praise
and thankfulness…. Like Paul.
Father…thank you
for the reminder that I was created for service to you. Forgive me for the
times that I let life…or health….or worries defeat my spirit. Help me to learn
how to tap into the great unlimited power and resources you have stored up for
all believers… continually lifting up my thanks and praises to you…building
strength instead of letting it fade.
Amen.
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