Thoughts for another day

Nov. 22, 2013.

Today's verse: Eph. 3:8, 9. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; (NRSV – copyright ack.)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Here’s Paul, humility personified, saying ‘I’m the very least of all the saints,’ and that Grace was given to him to bring to the gentiles, the news of the great and unlimited riches of Christ which He poured out on them who recognized Him as the ‘Anointed One’, the Messiah, the One of God, whom the prophets had foretold of and in whose coming was the Kingdom of heaven declared open to the lost children of God.  The abundance of the LORD God, was lavished upon the human race when Christ according to God’s plan, was born, died and rose again; and the only criterion for acceptance of these riches was to be in Christ, having believed in Him and accepted Him.

In the action of Jesus Christ coming unto earth, which was His footstool, God went further and revealed the mystery which was hidden for ages, which none knew except God.  And when Christ came to earth, the joy of God was such that the earth resounded in His good will and His favor descended upon all men of peace.  Nature was the silent witness of the humungous Grace of God that filled the earth, right from the bottom of the deepest ocean till the tip of the sky. 

The knowledge of God’s purpose became clear to those men and women who were desperately waiting for the Messiah.  And when He came, they believed, recognizing the time of their visitation.  Instantly the sentence of death handed out to Adam, ‘you are to die for you ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil’ was commuted and transformed into a peculiar decree; John describes it well in His Gospel, 1:12, ‘all who received Him, who believed in His Name, He gave power to become children of God.’  This was the mystery of the Gracious love of God.  This is what He had prepared for man and it finally was revealed.  You and I are now the recipients of this Grace and it is up to us to accept and joyfully make known the knowledge of this wonderful mystery of God to all who lie in the dark, giving them the Light, Jesus Christ, who will drive away their darkness.