Today’s Bible Reading:
Ecclesiastes 4-6; Psalm 18; Ephesians 3
Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:
Topic: Revelation
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 3:2-6
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 to God's
holy apostles and prophets. 6
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel
OBSERVATION:
When you start out watching a
mystery movie or reading a mystery novel, you don’t know the answer to the
mystery do you? As you go along and start putting clues together, you begin to
try to figure out “who did it.” But after you’ve finished reading the book or
when the closing credits begin to roll on that movie, everything’s been revealed.
Now it is not a secret anymore; you know the answer.
Well the concept of mystery as Paul uses it here is like
that. In verse 3 Paul says that this mystery—this secret unknown answer—has
been revealed; and in verse 6 he tells us the answer: This mystery—this secret,
unknown thing that is now known—is that Jews and Gentiles—everyone, no matter
what race, nationality, language or any other dividing lines you can think
of—have equal access to God the Father through Jesus Christ. Therefore, the promise of the Lord is open to us all. Hallelujah!
APPLICATION:
Previously to this, throughout
most of the history of the world, the Jews were the only people group in whom
there had been the repository of life and light in truth. But now, God, who had
brought through the channel of the Jewish people the entrance of the world’s
Redeemer, was bringing life throughout the whole world. God’s life—real
life—meaningful, joyous life for each person’s present and eternal life for
each person’s hope and future—was beginning to spread across every ethnic,
sectarian and racial boundary. It is this free flow of God’s life and salvation we
are called to aid, and not to hinder.
PRAYER:
Lord, continue revealing Your life and love within me and to
the world. May I and my fellow Christian brothers and sisters never be guilty of even inadvertently erecting barriers
that separate people from the amazing gift of life available to all in You. Through Christ. Amen.
-AP
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