As Paul the apostle
continued to tell the Ephesian church members how he was “the
prisoner of Jesus Christ” for the “Gentiles”, he
shared a condition, “if” or since they “have heard of
the dispensation of the grace of God”. This
“dispensation” was “given” to Paul the
apostle, and he shared it with the “Gentile” Ephesians. In
chapter three and verse three of his letter, Paul shared how “by
revelation” God “made known” to him “the
mystery” where we read:
How that by revelation
he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
The
verse begins, “How that by revelation he made known unto
me the mystery;” Paul began
with the words, “How that”
or “because or since” “by revelation”
which means “laying bare, making naked, disclosure of truth or
instruction of things before unknown” “he made known”
or “certified, declared and gave to understand” “unto
me” which refers to “Paul
the apostle” “the mystery” which
means “hidden thing, purpose or counsel and that which is a secret
and not obvious to the understanding”. God revealed to Paul that
which was “hidden” before and was not obvious to his or anyone
else's normal understanding.
The
verse goes on to say, “(as I wrote afore in few words,”
Paul added, “as I
wrote afore”” which means
“set forth before or designated before hand, depicted, portrayed
and painted before his eyes” “in a few words”
which means “little, small and of light or slight number”. Paul
evidently wrote to the Ephesians concerning these things in a
previous letter which contained “few words”.
When we
think through these words of Paul, we admire his position to know
what had previously been unknown. God Almighty desired to have “the
Gentiles” and “the Jews” combined together to make up His
church. This was Paul's commission and drive, and he carried it out
fully according to the Lord's command. Oh that we might hear the Lord
and know and carry out this “mystery” as did Paul, and may
the Lord by His Holy Spirit help us to share Jesus with any and all
who will listen and hear.
Next
time Paul shares how he wants the Ephesians to
“understand”
his “knowledge in the mystery of
Christ”,
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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