As we finished
the second chapter of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we read how
Jews and Gentiles were “builded together for an habitation of
God through the Spirit”, and
this was caused by Jesus dying on the cross and bringing both
of them together. In chapter three and verse one of his letter, Paul
reminded the Ephesians of the reason he was “a prisoner of Jesus
Christ” where we read:
For this
cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
The
verse begins, “For this cause I Paul,...” Paul began with
the words, “For this cause” or “favor of, pleasure of,
for the sake of, on this account and for this cause ” “I Paul”
whose name means “small or little” and was “the most famous of
the apostles and wrote a good part of the New Testament which were
the fourteen Pauline epistles”. Paul understood his position and
purpose for and towards Jesus and the Ephesian church members.
The
verse goes on to say, “...the prisoner of Jesus Christ
for you Gentiles,” Paul
continued, “the prisoner”
or “the one bound, in bonds and captive” “of Jesus”
whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son
of God, the Savior of mankind, God incarnate”
“Christ” which
refers to “the anointed One” and is “the Messiah and Son of
God” “for you Gentiles”
which means “companies, troops, swarms, tribes, nations and people
groups”. Paul considered himself “bound” to “Jesus
Christ” and driven toward the
“nations” who were non-Jewish.
When
we consider these words of Paul, we admire Paul's commitment not only
to Jesus but also the “Gentiles”. The deep devotion and
commitment to Jesus Christ compelled Paul to share the “gospel”
with everyone he could. Though he was a Jew, he was devoted to the
“Gentiles”, and he considered himself “a prisoner” to
Jesus to share with them.We should not only admire Paul's sincerity
and earnestness, but also follow his example of being “bound” so
closely to Jesus that we will share His “gospel” with everyone He
provides.
Next
time Paul shares about the “dispensation of grace”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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