Less than the Least of All Saints Ephesians 3:8

The apostle Paul told the Ephesian church members God intended for the “Gentiles” to be “fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel”. He also shared how God made him“a minister, according to the gift of God given to” him “by the effectual working of his power”. In chapter three and verse eight of his letter, Paul called himself, “less than the least of all saints” as he shared concerning the “unsearchable riches of Christ” where we read:

Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given,

that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

The verse begins, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints,...” Paul began, “Unto me” which refers to “Paul the apostle”, “who am less than the least” which means “the less than the lowest” “of all saints” which refers to “each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone of the sacred, pure, morally blameless both religiously and ceremonially consecrated ones”. Paul considered himself “less the the lowest” of all those who had put their trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The verse continues, “...is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” Paul added, “is this grace given” which in Greek is “didōmi houtos charis didōmi” means “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, goodwill, lovingkindness and unmerited favor”, “that I should preach” or “bring good news, announce glad tidings and instruct people concerning the things that pertain to Christian salvation” “among the Gentiles” which refers to “a company, troop, swarm, multitude of individuals with the same nature or genus, a tribe, nation and people group; a foreign nations not worshipping the true God and pagans” “the unsearchable” which means “that which cannot be searched out or be comprehended” “riches” or “wealth, abundance of external possessions, fulness and plentitude” “of Christ” who is “the anointed One, the Messiah and Son of God”. Paul was entrusted with the gospel of Jesus Christ to share Him among the Gentiles the “incomprehensible plentitude” of God.

When we think through these words of Paul, we admire his humility. We may want to argue with him about being the “lowest” of “all saints”, but this was his opinion of himself. He knew his background and felt himself less than everyone who has received Christ as their Savior. In addition to Paul's humility, he was “given” the commission to share the “unsearchable riches of Christ” with the “Gentile” people. Not only would he share the blessings and inclusion of the “gospel of Christ”, but he would also share the abundant benefits afforded by that relationship. May all who read Paul's words note his unrelenting “humility”, and his passion to share God's “incomprehensible abundance” with everyone who will receive Jesus as their Lord.

Next time Paul shares about “the fellowship of the mystery”, 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.