The gift and the mission

 

Ephesians 3:1-12

Grace is a gift and a mission. In the opening half of Ephesians 3, Paul the apostle mentions grace as such. First, he recalls the commission of God's grace the Lord gave him. He then says he became a servant of the gospel according to "the gift of God's grace." Finally, as "the very least of all saints," Paul says grace was given to him to bring the message of Christ to the gentiles. What we know of Paul's life, he experienced God's grace himself. The Lord reached out to him and changed the course of his life. But Paul also came to a more fuller understanding of this grace. That God wanted to reach all people as much as God wanted to reach him. Make no mistake, if the Lord wants to be in communion with any of us, that's God's grace at work. Part of our receiving God's favor is then extended that grace outward to others. For Paul, it was to the gentiles. Don't loose sight of how staggering that was for Paul and many others like him. As the apostle understood it, God had been preparing the world to hear this message for some time. God had always wanted to expand the family of God. But that "mystery was not made known to humankind." Until it was. And when it was, God instituted the church. Not church buildings and church services or church committees. The church, the redeemed family of God. That family comes with a built-in mission. A grace-filled mission. It is to make disciples of Jesus Christ that have come to know God's grace for themselves and that are learning to be prepared to extend that grace. Grace has to remain at the center of all we do because it will always be at the center of our life with God. We don't experience God's presence or power without God's grace. And we are fully the church as we live out our mission of grace.  Stay blessed...john