...all are welcome...

“1 This is the reason that I, Paul, am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you gentiles, 2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you 3 and how the mystery (secret) was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that is, the gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power” Ephesians 3:1-7.

Today, Paul speaks of a strange “Mystery” — a “secret” — that has just been reveled to him by God. The secret plan — the “mystery” — is that “the gentiles, the non-Jewish peoples of the world, have become fellow heirs, members of the same Body of Christ — the Church — and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (see verse 6 above).

Dear friends, what’s clear here is that God always intended to bring Gentiles, the non-Jewish peoples of the world, into fellowship with Himself, on equal terms with His ancient people the Jews.

First, they are to share the inheritance, which is eternal life through Christ’s death and resurrection. Second, the Gentiles are to become fellow members of the One Body of Christ, the Church. Gentiles are no longer second-class citizens. Third, both Gentiles and Jews have equal share in the promises of Christ!

And Paul was the one chosen by God to pioneer this. So he writes this letter to the churches in Ephesus, none of whom knew Paul personally, so that they know where Paul fits into the plan and will of God. Don’t forget, Paul is writing this from jail (see verse 1 in this chapter), and so what he wants is for everybody to join in this work of building a Christian church and to share in the vision of God.

I hope you and I can do the same thing. My prayer is that you think about this whenever you find yourself in a church that restricts anyone from being part of the church and from receiving all the graces and gifts of the church that God has given to us all. For the “mystery” or “secret” is out: everybody in welcome!

Today’s Prayer

Oh Lord, I praise You and thank You for creating a church

that welcomes everyone.

Thank you for revealing this to the Apostle Paul.

Help me to remember that You love everyone.

Help me to remember that You died and rose from the dead for everyone.

So today, if I am struggling with anyone in my life,

let me remember that You love them.

Help me to love everyone and to welcome them into my life.

Help me to step away from any — and all — prejudices.

And if I have experienced prejudice from others, help me to be forgiving.

I love You and wish only to follow You

all the days of my life.

In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.

From the Bible:

“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” Romans 15:7.

“You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” Ephesians 2:19.

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers” Acts 20:28.

“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” Romans 12:5.

“Jesus said, ‘Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me’” Matthew 10:40.

“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:13.