Ephesians 3:7-13 (NIV)
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul was a man of single focus, because he had been called to single, very significant task: bringing the gospel out of the Jewish milieu and into the world of the gentiles. He thus went where few Jews were willing to go, steadfastly spreading seeds of salvation and watering them with love, grace, Spirit-filled teachings, and Spirit-empowered miracles. And then, sometimes quickly sometimes only after much work, he was able to bring in a harvest for the kingdom of God.
Paul gives complete credit for his calling and for his success to God’s grace working in and through him. He knew his own history well, that he had actively persecuted the Church, and that he had the blood of Christians on his hands. He knew that he did not deserve to be an apostle at all. But he was in fact all that God had called him to be by God’s grace and transforming power.
God’s intent had always been to bring the gentile peoples into His kingdom, to save as many from all nations as possible from their sins. And now, with the Church fully established and growing, that plan was finally coming to pass. In fact, with Paul at the helm of gentile outreach, their numbers in the Church had surpassed the number of believing Jews. God’s plan was succeeding.
Now Paul was encouraging the gentile Christians to move forward confidently, secure in their right to approach God’s throne for whatever they needed. Instead of becoming preoccupied and frustrated with Paul’s imprisonment, he wanted to refocus them on the positives that they had fallen heir to, and to remember that the key reason why he was imprisoned was his commitment to his ministry to the gentiles, and his success among them. And, while they were coming to God in prayer, to remember him as well!
Father, from the very beginning, Jesus had told His followers openly that they would have trouble in the broken, sin-damaged world into which He was sending them. And that promise proved true in the life of every apostle, including Paul. But in the midst of that suffering, all of them, including Paul, were faithful to You and to Your calling on their lives, remaining faithful until the end. Lord, help me to be as steadfast, as fruitful as they were, no matter what the circumstances, so that Your kingdom agenda can move forward through me, and so that more and more people from all walks of life can come into your kingdom through faith in Jesus. Amen.