Read Ephesians 3. For today don't read this out of your Bible. Read what I have posted below. Come up with a title to this chapter. In study Bibles there are headings to chapters that give an idea of what that chapter is going to be about. Come up with your own.
Also write out the main points you think Paul is trying to convey to the Ephesians.
What does this mean to you?
3 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles[a] . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.[b] 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone[c] this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Because of Christ and our faith in him,[d] we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father,[e] 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.[f] 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Day 2
Read verses 1-4.
What do you think Paul means when he says that he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of the Gentiles?
Read Paul's conversion story (Acts 9:1-19).
Paul was the Jew of Jews. He persecuted Christians. He didn't have time for Gentiles, but then God called him to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. Who would have thought?! How has God used you in a way (or ways) you never expected?
What's another story in the Bible where God used someone unexpected to serve a specific purpose?
Day 3
Read verses 5-10
Paul has mentioned several times the fact that the Gentiles also have access to Christ. It occurred to me how foreign of a concept this was to the Jews but also the Gentiles. Remember throughout the entire Old Testament and the 400 year period before the New Testament was written, Jews were the only people who had a connection to God. That connection was through their priests but the Gentiles had no way to God. So the initial hesitation by some of the Jews to accept the Gentiles is more understandable. In modern days, I think we have a hard time believing or accepting some people as Christians or capable of salvation.
Who have you met or known that you thought was beyond redemption? What made you feel this way?
What group of people seems particularly unreachable? How can we reach those people?
What is your favorite redemption story in the Bible? Why?
God called Paul to minister to the Gentiles and that irony is not lost on Paul. He recognizes that he is not worthy of such a calling. At this point what is God calling you to do that you may not feel worthy or capable of doing?
Let's praise the Lord again for saving the Gentiles! Thank Him for tearing the curtain that separated the people from Him. Thank Him for the Holy Spirit which connects us directly to Him.
Day 4
Read 11-13.
There is a lot of power packed in these 3 verses. Paul acknowledges that God had an eternal purpose for God's redemption (for mankind) in Christ. Think about eternity. Eternity. God has always had this planned out. That blows my mind.
How does this help you think of/understand God? How can we move that awe into action?
Verse 12 is awesome. We have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him.
What does this mean to you? How can this change your prayer life?
In verse 13 Paul asks the Ephesians "not to lose heart" of his suffering. He tells them he is suffering for them. Wow.
What does this mean to you?
Take an honest look at yourself. Are you willing to suffer for God's glory and to help fellow believers and maybe non-believers? If not, how can we get ready?
Day 5
Read 14-21
Paul has another great prayer in 14-19. With one person in mind. Pray this for someone. Put their name in this prayer.
God wants us to have Christ dwelling in our hearts through faith and that we would be rooted & grounded in love. The Lord is rooted and grounded in love, so naturally He wants us to be the same. How does this change your outlook? How would your life look different if everything you did and said was rooted in love?
In verse 20 we read that God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power we have in us (through Him). Just soak that in for a minute. What is one thing you really want/need for good to more than you could ever imagine? How could He blow your socks off?
Now that you have that in mind- remember He can do so much more than you could ever imagine.
Wow. We serve an awesome God.
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