What good news for the Gentiles! Yeshua has died not only for the sins of His people, the Jews, but now has made the Gentiles joint heirs through Him. Those who follow Yeshua are fellow members of the body of Christ alongside the Jewish people who accept Christ.
Paul was called to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. Of course, we don’t want to forget bringing Christ to the Jewish people either. All of us have certain circles of influence amongst family, friends, acquaintances, etc. in addition to the opportunity to be or support missionaries within our own country or who go to other countries. Pray for the Spirit to guide you and prompt you for your calling with whom to share the gospel and how. Not all of us will take on missionary journeys as Paul did, but all of us have opportunity to support those that do and even more personally to bring the gospel to those we interact with daily in our normal lives. Do not be discouraged or count yourself “unworthy” of or “unable” to bring the message to others. All of us, including Paul are unworthy on our own. The power and call come from Yeshua. We are but loyal and obedient servants to bring the message forth.
Paul’s Stewardship
1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
20Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
To Him be the glory indeed. As we seek to serve Him in bringing the message of truth to those we are called to reach, let us take note that our words will seldom be meaningful to those around us if we do not live out what we share. If we are to be effective messengers in this world, we must first be separate and distinct from this world. We can hardly share the gospel of truth effectively if we accept the lies and false teachings of the world or even those incorporated into many churches today. We must seek Him and His Spirit as guide. We must pray and study the Bible. It can not be a “once a week sit in church” relationship with God. He wants more of us if we are to be used effectively by Him. How do we live for Him daily? How do we choose His ways instead of our own desires? Do we devote time in Bible study and prayer? Do we take time to help others? Do we love others, which includes at times rebuking wrong behavior in a caring way? Do we continue in faith despite persecution, rejection, or hard times?
Pray for the Spirit to guide you in your work for Yeshua as you seek to follow His example and answer His calling for your life.
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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.