Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Samuel 1-3; Ephesians 3
Devotional Thought:
We, as born again Christians, have the amazing responsibility to help a lost world see and understand the character of Christ. It is that amazing responsibility that leads Paul to write, “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.” (vs. 1) Paul recognized that He was in bondage to a cause that was revealed to Him by the Lord and that cause was the establishment of churches among the Gentiles. The local church was a mystery for most of the Bible, but God gave the apostle Paul the task of taking the gospel message to the Gentiles for the establishment of churches. “Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.” (vs. 5-6) Paul was called by God to be a minister in His church to bring glory to Christ. The church is God’s idea for providing a body for His Son, “according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (vs. 11) Paul prayed for this church to be strengthened by God in their inner man. Notice that he did not pray that the persecution would go away or that life would get easier for them. Paul was careful to pray that this church would do right in the midst of their circumstances rather than pray for their circumstances to change. Paul prayed that with their salvation, the saints in Ephesus would comprehend the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love that Christ has shown in providing salvation and establishing His church. The conclusion is a tremendous reminder and incredible comfort regarding the power and might of our God to accomplish His will for His own glory. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (vs. 20-21)
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to value the church as you do. Please help me to see that it is more than a place of employment; it is the fulfillment of your promise to your Son, and we get to participate.
• Lord, please help me to work tirelessly to serve your church. Please help me to build into our dear people the character of the Lord Jesus. Please help me to model your character for them to follow.
• Lord, thank you for your plan of a church, and please help us to remember that you will build your church and we participate.