On Thursday we looked at the mystery unveiled in Ephesians 3, “the mystery made known to me by revelation”, as Paul writes. This mystery was previously hidden, but God’s Spirit has revealed it now, namely that “the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” All the divisions have been swept away; God has revealed His great plan of salvation, “his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The fact that God’s eternal purposes were so misunderstood (even in the heavenly realms) and yet prevailed gives us great encouragement in this walk of faith. “I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory,” Paul wrote and we too need not be discouraged whenever we face sufferings, since God is working all things together for good to those who are called (Romans 8:28)
Finally, we looked at Paul’s prayer that we might know how long and wide and high and deep is the love of Christ and might know this love that surpasses knowledge — “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” If that seems beyond words, Paul reminds us that God is able to “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” and, amazingly, that is “according to his power that is at work within us“. We have an awesome God!