The Purpose of the Mystery

Ephesians 3:8-13 (New King James Version)

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

In the last post, we talked about what the Mystery was. Paul reveals it here for both Jew and Gentile to read. The Old Testament had predicted that God's grace would come to the Gentiles, but the Jews couldn't fathom how. Now that Christ had come and fulfilled His purpose on earth, the mystery was revealed. In this next passage, Paul is explaining what his role in this mystery is. He knows he is not worthy of God's grace and that he was only chosen for God's work through God's grace. But regardless of his past, God chose him. Maybe because of his past, God chose him.

I'm a firm believer in "No Regrets." I believe that what a person has chosen to do in the past is part of what makes them who they are today. Our past experiences, tragedies, victories and choices make up our present nature. Many of us get stuck behind that past and choose to not let it go so that we can further God's kingdom. We remember our mistakes all too well and decide for God that we shouldn't be allowed to move past them.

Paul's previous way of life was certainly not "Saint-Worthy." He hunted down Christians and killed them. It was more than his job...it was his life's mission. And I don't think that God just chooses to look past this and say, "Well, you did this, but now let's forget that and do this now." I think God perfectly selected Paul because of what he had done in the past. Paul's comment in verse 8 is genuine. His humilty is nowhere near false. In I Timothy 1:15, Paul calls himself "the chief of sinners." He claims the "Worst Sinner of the Year Award" and knows exactly what he is capable of.

But he also rejoices in "the unsearchable riches of Christ."
He revels in "the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."
And he knows he has "boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him."

And he knows that ultimately, the tribulations we go through--whether daily struggles or life upheavals--are for our glory in Christ. Despite our past, God has a job for us. And when life throws a curveball into that plan, how do we react? Do we panic and assume the job is over? Do we take a step away from God's plan to "just deal with this for a minute?" Or do we keep our eyes on Him, knowing that He selected us because of our past and wants us to use that for His glory in the future? We all know what we're capable of without Christ. But I think we get nervous and unsettled about the future because only God knows what we can be capable of in Him.

...we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.