Ephesians 3:1-6
The key word in this passage is mystery. The mystery is not a puzzle to be figured out our a problem to be solved (like a mystery novel) but indicates that the truth that Paul shares in this passage, hidden to past generations, is revealed in Christ but still beyond our ability to fully comprehend and explain it. The mysterious truth revealed in this passage is that the Gentiles and the Jews are co-heirs, belong to the same body and share together in the promise of God. Again, this union is in Christ.
I don't think we, as western Christians, fully understand the impact of this mystery. I feel like I've always been a part of the body and a "sharer" of the promise ofGod. I can trace my spiritual heritage through generations (actually, I can't because I don't know it much beyond my great-grandparents but I know that I could if I did the work to dig into my family's history). It's almost like we've flipped it: Gentiles are in and Jew are out. In Paul's day, this mystery would have blown the minds of the Jews and those who understood anything of the Jewish religion. Gentiles were clearly outside of the promises given to the Jews but now, through Jesus, they have free and equal access to the blessing and promises.
This clearly speaks of God's grace. The Gentiles did nothing to earn their way to the "inside". God granted them access through the death and resurrection of Jesus. No wonder the Judaizers (Jewish Christians who tried to impose the ceremonial law on Gentile Christians) tried to keep the barriers up! It wasn't fair that these dirty barbarians got equal access without doing any of the work that the Jews had done for centuries (at least in their eyes): carefully keeping the laws and observing the ceremonial feasts and holidays, etc.
It's human nature: once I'm in I want the club to be elite and so I work hard to create rules and barriers to keep others out. The question that the Scripture is asking me this morning is: who am I working to keep outside the promises of God? Are their individuals? Are there whole people groups?
God, please let me be a conduit of your grace and not a dam that keeps it from flowing to the people who need it. Help me to remove barriers to your promises and not erect obstacles that would prevent people from becoming your children, just as I have.
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Blevos is the name we came up with for web-logging-devotions. It all started with a discussion about the role of community and the role of "private" devotions. It was decided this was a great mix.
2 comments:
I feel the same way, sometimes we want Christianity to be an exclusive club, we want only certain people who "GET IT" to be in and those who don't well maybe they can be on the fringe, doesn't leave much room for grace though does it. I know that I am part of the problem, but boy do I eagerly want to be part of the solution, God help us to be flowing with his grace.
Amen!
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