Paul the apostle suffered in
his body for sharing the gospel throughout the world, and he went
through great difficulties so people could have a relationship with
the Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. He told the Colossians that
he rejoiced in his sufferings for them, and that he was made a
minister of the gospel on their behalf. In chapter one and verse
twenty-six of his letter written to the Colossians, Paul shares a
mystery that once was hidden but now is revealed. We read
but now is made
manifest to his saints:
The
verse begins, “Even the mystery which has
been hid from ages and from generations,...” Paul
wrote of “the mystery” which
is “a hidden secret, purpose or thing, not obvious to the
understanding” “which has been hid” or “concealed or
kept secret” “from ages” which refers to “for ever, an
unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity” “and from
generations” which were “that which has been begotten, men of
the same stock, a family”. This “mystery” was a hidden
purpose of God which up until the time of Paul the apostle was kept
secret, and no one except the Lord knew His eternal plan.
The verse continues, “but
now is made manifest to his saints:” Paul
goes on to add that this “mystery”
“now is made
manifest”
which means “make actual and visible, realized, to
make known by teaching, to become manifest, exposed to view, appear,
to become known, to be plainly recognized, and thoroughly understood”
“to his saints” which are “those who are sacred and holy
to God”. This great “mystery” and secret was being
revealed during the time of Paul, and the Colossians were the
benefactors of its revelation.
As we read this verse we may
be inclined to wonder what this great “mystery” was.
Fortunately Paul reveals it in the next verse which we shall discover
next time, however, for now let us meditate upon the idea that the
Lord hid this “mystery” for such a long time. The fact
that it was revealed during the time of the Colossians has benefit to
us today as we may know what this great secret was. As we think this
through, let us give praise and honor to our Heavenly Father that
“the secret things belong to the Lord”, and He knows best
when to reveal them.
Next
time Paul tells about the mystery and the riches of God's glory,
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, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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