A Journey Through Ephesians…3:1-4

When I think about all of this, I Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles… assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. As I briefly wrote earlier, God Himself revealed His mysterious plan to me. As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by His Spirit he has revealed it to His holy apostles and prophets. Ephesians 3:1-4

I love Paul. What a stud.

This passage makes me want to paint my face Braveheart blue and charge the gates of hell!

Why you might ask? It isn’t that overwhelming of a passage upon first read. But just wait.

Paul, a prisoner of ChristJesus….had been given a special responsibility by God Himself.

Paul. A PRISONER.

I don’t think we have really mentioned this, but Paul was writing this FROM PRISON. Yep. While he was imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote FOUR of the Epistles in the back of our Bibles. Why? BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN GIVEN A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY from God. And that responsibility was to explain to the Jews and Gentiles that they are ONE BODY. THIS WAS GROUNDBREAKING NEWS. To everyone. Including Paul! And he was going to fulfill the “stewardship of this grace” come hell or high water.

So why Braveheart blue? What stirs so deeply in me that makes me want to gear up for God? Well, notice the break in thought here. Do you see how Paul appears to begin one thought but interrupts himself with another? I believe he wanted to make sure we, the reader, KNEW the weight of his situation. He was ON MISSION because God had given him a special responsibility and no inconvenience LIKE PRISON would hinder this project.

What special responsibility have you been given? Genuinely asking. Because I KNOW we have all been given one. We are part of a really big plan (and we get into even more detail about this plan as we read! IT IS SO EXCITING!)

I don’t know about you but it doesn’t take much for me to lose sight of my special responsibilities from God and abort mission. Something as simple as a runny nose or a long scroll on Amazon can be reason enough for me to “do that tomorrow”…. but Paul’s example to the Church is, well, quite convicting.

“…you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul is not only a messenger…. he is an example. His life was meant to be a picture of devoted servanthood to Christ. Be imitators of me, he says.

So. What is the special responsibility you have been given?

I sit with this question today and I invite you to do the same. I am praying the Lord to stir a great urgency inside of me to fulfill what He is asking…. To “write my letter from prison” per se and let NOTHING stop me. Some confession might be in order, too.

This is serious business. Brother or sister, it is time to paint up…. and “make the best use of our time, because the days are evil.” Eph. 5:16

No post tomorrow…. pray for my boys! Wisdom teeth coming out!