Ephesians: Wholeness in a 
World
Week of July 10, 2005
This Week’s Scripture Reading
Ephesians 3:1-13
1I, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ Jesus because of my preaching to you Gentiles. 2As you already know, God has given me this special ministry of announcing his favor to you Gentiles. 3As I briefly mentioned earlier in this letter, God himself revealed his secret plan to me. 4As you read what I have written, you will understand what I know about this plan regarding Christ. 5God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now he has revealed it by the Holy Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.
6And this is the secret plan: The Gentiles have an equal share with the Jews in all the riches inherited by God’s children. Both groups have believed the Good News, and both are part of the same body and enjoy together the promise of blessings through Christ Jesus. 7By God’s special favor and mighty power, I have been given the wonderful privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
8Just think! Though I did nothing to deserve it, and though I am the least deserving Christian there is, I was chosen for this special joy of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9I was chosen to explain to everyone this plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
10God’s purpose was to show his wisdom in all its rich variety to all the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. They will see this when Jews and Gentiles are joined together in his church. 11This was his plan from all eternity, and it has now been carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
12Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome. 13So please don’t despair because of what they are doing to me here. It is for you that I am suffering, so you should feel honored and encouraged.
Prayers for the Week:
Sunday |
Heavenly Father, I thank You that I am free to worship and serve You as You lead me, and that I am not a prisoner. I pray for those around the world who are in prisons for their commitment to advancing the Gospel. In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Monday |
Heavenly Father, Thank You for revealing Your secret plan for our salvation through Jesus! Thank You for using people such as the Apostle Paul to transmit the message, and to offer salvation to people everywhere. Use me today to do the same. |
Tuesday |
Heavenly Father, Thank You for making no distinctions among believers. I thank You that through the shedding of His blood, Jesus wiped away every distinction, and made us all one in Him. Let me live in unity today. This I pray in His name. Amen. |
Wednesday |
Heavenly Father, I recognize that by my own virtue, I deserve nothing. My life is made valuable by Jesus. His death in my place purchased new life for me—eternal life for me. For that I give You my thanks and praise. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. |
Thursday |
Heavenly Father, nothing in life or death can separate me from You! Thank You that Your secret plan included life after death as well as abundant life here and now. Use me today to offer that new life to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. |
Friday |
Heavenly Father, I recognize that a spiritual war is being waged all around me every day. I praise You that Jesus death on the cross put down the forces of Satan, and that his power is temporary. Let me live in the light of Your power! Amen. |
Saturday |
Heavenly Father, I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy spirit today and that You will challenge and encourage me to share the Good News of Jesus with at least one person, and welcome someone new to join in our worship tomorrow. Amen. |
Background on the Text
The Apostle Paul often made it clear that he was writing his letters from prison. The cost of following Jesus was high in Paul’s day, and many who trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord paid the price of their lives for him. Ultimately, Paul was executed by the Roman government for his primary allegiance to Jesus. Paul wanted the Ephesian Christians to know that he gladly bore the cost of discipleship, because it was through his suffering that others came to know the salvation Jesus offered. Paul’s attitude of willing service and suffering to advance the cause of the gospel shows us how every Christian is to invest our lives. In our own day, the costs of following Jesus are usually ridicule or indifference rather than imprisonment and death, but in any situation we are to remember that Jesus died for us, and set us free to serve Him and others. As we live our lives faithfully in Jesus’ name, our willingness to put others first and to share the Good News of Jesus freely assures that others will experience His salvation as well!
Monday
Observation: What does the text say?
Tuesday
Interpretation: What do these verses mean?
Wednesday
Application: How can I respond to the text’s insights and teachings?
Thursday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
Encouraged and strengthened me by:
|
Fallen short areas
|
What will I do with these insights?
|
Friday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
What did God say to me this week?
|
Share insights and growth points.
|
Changed/transformed how?
|
Saturday
Reflective Thoughts