Paul
the apostle considered himself a “prisoner of Jesus Christ for”
the Ephesian “gentiles”, as he knew he was commissioned by
the Lord to share the gospel with them. In chapter three and verse
two of his letter, Paul wrote to the Ephesians concerning “the
dispensation of the grace of God” where we read:
If you
have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me
to you-ward:
The
verse begins, “If you have heard of the dispensation of
the grace of God ...” Paul
began with the words, “If you have heard”
or “indeed, inasmuch, as and since” the Ephesians were “endowed
with the faculty of hearing, not deaf, attending to and considering”
“of the dispensation”
which means “the management, oversight, administration of other's
property and stewardship” “of the grace”
or “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness,
charm, loveliness, pertaining to speech, goodwill, lovingkindness and
unmerited favor” “of
God” which refers to “the
Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father,
Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. The Ephesians were exposed to
the “stewardship” of “God's unmerited favor” which was
entrusted to Paul, “the prisoner of Jesus Christ”.
The
verse goes on to say, “...which is given me to you-ward:” Paul
continued, “which is given me” or “bestowed, granted,
allow to have, furnished, supplied, delivered over and extended”
“to you-ward” which refers to the “Gentile”
Ephesians. This “oversight” of “grace” was
entrusted to the “prisoner of Jesus” Paul to be “extended”
to the “Gentiles”.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we understand Paul is in the
middle of his thoughts concerning the “gospel of grace”
which was entrusted to him and given “to the Gentiles”. Though
Paul was “a prisoner” of Jesus Christ, it was because the
“oversight” of “grace” was committed to Paul, and Paul was to
share this “truth” with the “Gentile” world of which the
Ephesians were a part. Most of us who read these words of Paul are
“Gentiles”, and it is because Jesus trusted Paul with His message
that we are believers today. May we give praise to the Lord for His
wonderful plan to extend His “grace” to Jews, Gentiles and all
who will believe in Jesus' finished work on the cross.
Next
time Paul shares how Jesus “by revelation” “made
known unto” Paul “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.
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