READ: Ephesians 3:1-12
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
KEY THOUGHT:
No one deserves God’s grace. That’s why it’s called grace. Grace is “getting something I don’t deserve”. So, by the nature of the meaning of the word, no one deserves God’s grace. Because of his past and the miraculous change that he experienced, Paul was especially sensitive to this. His past life caused him to name himself “less than the least of all saints”. Yet Paul was given grace to preach the gospel and do mighty works for God.
Think about it… Romans 3:23 tells us that we have sinned and Romans 6:23 tells us that we have a sin debt to pay—death! But Romans 5:8 tells us that while we were sinning, Jesus Christ paid our sin debt by dying for us. That’s grace! Even though you (and I) may have done some pretty bad things—we must remember that God still bestows His grace on us. And by that grace, you can be used of God in mighty ways. Satan may try to discourage you, but remember, he’s a liar. God’s grace is sufficient to see you (and me) through to accomplish His will.
CONSIDER:
- Have you ever felt like you didn’t deserve to be used by God? What did you do when you felt this way?
- Why do you think Paul called himself the “less than the least”? In spite of Paul’s opinion, how is he perceived today and why?
- If God wants you to live as an encouraged Christian, where does discouragement come from?
APPLICATION:
Let God do more with less!
