Ephesians 3
February Memory Verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Read: Ephesians 3
One of the reasons that God saved you was to work through you. To use you to share the life-changing message of the Gospel with the people in your world. For you to use your spiritual gifts to serve Him and His church. For you to carry on the mission He gave us to make disciples faithfully and regularly. Not allowing God to work through you is a result of selfishness and self-centeredness. We don’t do these things, simply because our lives revolve around us. I know this is strong, but if this applies to you, take time right now and confess this sin to the Lord and take steps today to make the necessary adjustments.
It’s an honor and a privilege to serve God – to carry the message of the Good News to the people around us.
By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. – The Apostle Paul (v.7)
God wants to use us (His Church) to show a lost world the goodness of God and to point the way to Jesus. How is God using you to draw others to Jesus at work or school?
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (v.10)
We don’t have the power to do this on our own – but we don’t have to. This is given to us by God when we ask.
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. (v.12)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (v.20)
So…
How does God want to use you more fully than He is right now for His glory and the advancement of the Gospel around you?
How are people seeing Jesus in you? When’s the last time you saw this happen for yourself?
How will you trust in His mighty power today to do great and mighty things for Him?
By: Tim Parsons
15 Comments
Ephesians 3:17-19 hit me like never before this morning. Do I comprehend God's love? I will be praying for further comprehension as I really want to be filled with the fullness of God.
That's so good Joey! Thank you for your faithfulness to be an example by reading God's Word every day. That's my prayer too!
Tim, your directness is super appreciated. We need to be called out directly where we are and that's exactly what you're doing. As of late, my flame for evangelism has waned and it's from selfishness. I forget the great privilege that it is to be able to share and see life change. I pray we all are encouraged to look outward instead of inward as a result of Ephesians 3.
Jordan you bless me! That's so encouraging! Praying for you right now brother!
 "...the very least of all the saints." (v.8) In light of God's perfect goodness and righteousness, Paul's assessment of himself was not false humility but simple honesty. He knew his unworthiness.
When we struggle with our sin and selfishness, consider the same assessment of your own unworthiness and then come to the cross and find grace, unfathomable riches, hope, strength, and direction.
Great perspective Korbet! Thanks for being a faithful reader and commenter!
Thank you so much Tim for today!
I'm proud of you Adrian! Thanks for reading!
Great stuff in this chapter! Praying today that I can have that boldness in sharing with those around me, that I can be an example of Jesus to those in my life, especially at work. Thanks for this encouragement, Tim!
Praying for you today Scottie - you're a gift from God!
16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
"His glorious unlimited resources will empower you"
Wow! This really hit me today! We don't have to rely on our own strength at all. As long as we stay connected to the vine (John 15) we have His power for His purposes. I pray that we will always be a church filled with people connected to the vine.
Thanks Mike!
This is such a rich chapter. Just reminds even more how I need to be sharing the gospel!
Awesome! Proud of you Reva!
Beginning last year, God put it on my heart to make videos to share on social media. It's help me rely on his power and it's helped me to surrender it to Him. Some people have acknowledged the encouragement of this, and it reaffirms that God is working through it.
I pray also for more opportunities to be able to share through the platform of Athletics. I pray that God would open my eyes to see the opportunities, and give me a boldness and courageousness to use it