WORD From The Woods
Ephesians 3:1-13
"For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."
In this passage, the apostle Paul talks wrote about how the Jews and Gentiles are brought into the same body of believers in Christ. Paul says that this is the mystery of the gospel, revealed in Christ Jesus. In Christ there is one body, true Israel, fellow heirs, and partakers of the promise of Christ Jesus through the gospel. Paul also makes clear in this passage that he was called to bring this promised gospel to the Gentile world. I love how he puts it in verse 2, Paul says that he was called to be a steward of God's grace. To be a steward of God's grace implies a couple of things, one, that God's grace is worth stewarding, and second, that to do so requires responsibility hard work, and dedication. If we are to be stewards of anything in life there will be responsibility, hard work, and dedication involved, as loggers we understand the concept of stewardship very well as it's applied to responsible forestry. If we as loggers know how to be good stewards of God's creation, then how much more should we as Christians know how to be stewards of God's grace since we have been redeemed because of this amazing grace? If Christ has saved us by God's grace then we must be stewards of that Grace by being responsible servants who work hard to proclaim the gospel with dedication and devotion to our Lord and Savior!! Paul tells us in verse 12, as believers we have boldness and access to the unsearchable riches of Christ Jesus, and we must share this as Paul did with the lost and hurting world!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-
Ephesians 3:1-13
"For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory."
In this passage, the apostle Paul talks wrote about how the Jews and Gentiles are brought into the same body of believers in Christ. Paul says that this is the mystery of the gospel, revealed in Christ Jesus. In Christ there is one body, true Israel, fellow heirs, and partakers of the promise of Christ Jesus through the gospel. Paul also makes clear in this passage that he was called to bring this promised gospel to the Gentile world. I love how he puts it in verse 2, Paul says that he was called to be a steward of God's grace. To be a steward of God's grace implies a couple of things, one, that God's grace is worth stewarding, and second, that to do so requires responsibility hard work, and dedication. If we are to be stewards of anything in life there will be responsibility, hard work, and dedication involved, as loggers we understand the concept of stewardship very well as it's applied to responsible forestry. If we as loggers know how to be good stewards of God's creation, then how much more should we as Christians know how to be stewards of God's grace since we have been redeemed because of this amazing grace? If Christ has saved us by God's grace then we must be stewards of that Grace by being responsible servants who work hard to proclaim the gospel with dedication and devotion to our Lord and Savior!! Paul tells us in verse 12, as believers we have boldness and access to the unsearchable riches of Christ Jesus, and we must share this as Paul did with the lost and hurting world!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-