Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 3:5-7

ESV

". . . . which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which was given me by the working of his power."

*ETS:

Through the apostles and the preachers echoing the words of Jesus, God is telling the secret no other generation has heard. The secret concerns Christ and the Gentile. Through Christ the Gentile is partaker of the promise. You are now fellow heirs with God's people, and I have been graced of God to be one of the apostles sharing the secret.

*DTFTD:

Breaking news! This just in! These lines are what the reader should hear when reading Paul's words in our text. Paul was part of a special group of news reporters who had the inside scoop on the greatest story of all time. Paul was sharing a secret no other generation had heard. The secret was good news and it concerned how Gentiles could become part of the blessings of God through Christ.

Suppose I told you I had an inside scoop on a story that would change the world - a story that would change your future forever, (your destiny in this life and in the life to come). Wouldn't you think that should be headline news in every city in the world. That was exactly the kind of news Paul and the other apostles and preachers were sharing. It is the kind of news we have been called to share. When Paul said he was graced of God to be a proclaimer of the good news, he was speaking to all who were hearing and receiving the news. Everyone who hears is graced to hear and responsible to tell what they were graced to hear. The gospel of Christ is heavens news to earth. It is the biggest story to hit our planet. Do you feel graced of God to have heard and been blessed by the greatest news on earth.? If so, join the apostles and preachers in telling the greatest news of all time.

*EDS:

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hill and everywhere, Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Hymn, John W. Work, Jr. , 1907).

INGREDIENTS: Graced to tell. Word Study: Remember "grace" is God's "unmerited favor." (Williams trans.).

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.

Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 3:4

ESV

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ.

*ETS:

Reading this letter, you are being made aware of what has been revealed to me about the secret of Christ.

*DTFTD:

Paul's letter to the Ephesians was a written explanation of the revelation he had received concerning the application of the work of Christ. The "truth," or "mystery" of Christ was that his sacrifice for sin was not limited to the Jew, but was for the Gentile as well. The disciples of Jesus heard Him say, "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold" (Jn 10:16), and ". . .if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me" (Jn. 12:32). Such words were hints of the mystery and no one asked Jesus to explain. The inclusion of the Gentile in the blessings of the family of God was not a thought in the mind of the disciples of Christ. It took some time for the Jewish disciples to understand the full impact of Jesus' words, "Go and teach all nations. . . "(Matt. 28:19). Preach to the Gentiles? The apostle Paul, who was most qualified to preach to the Jew, was actually called to preach to the Gentile. Confusing? Yes, until the revelation was given to him. Paul was brought to understand the mystery of Christ. He understood that Christ was the fulfillment of the law for all who believe, Jew and Gentile (Rom. 10:4). Paul came to see the mystery in summary: One with Christ and one in Christ. When a person becomes one with Christ, having all the benefits of Jesus' holiness, that person becomes one in Christ with all other believers. The mystery is that of unity with Christ and all believers.

The Jew / Gentile issue of the New Testament times may not as much of a hot potato issue today as it was for believers in Paul's day; however, there is an emphasis for current application. The mystery, (One with Christ, One in Christ), says to the church of all generations to be expressive of the love, unity and harmony in Jesus. The church is a family of faith where people from all walks of life come together as one in Christ. When bikers and cowboys, truckers and doctors, carpenters and engineers, fishermen and pilots,- people from all walks of life meet as one in Christ, the world will know there is something mysterious going on. We might even be asked to explain. Our answer will be Paul's message - Christ!

*EDS:

"I am a stranger here, within a foreign land; My home is far away, upon a golden strand; Ambassador to be of realms beyond the sea, I'm here on business for my King. This is the message that I bring, A message angels fain would sing: 'Oh, be ye reconciled,' Thus saith my Lord and King, 'Oh, be ye reconciled to God.' "

Hymn "The King's Business,"
Flora Cassel, 1852-1911.

INGREDIENTS: The mystery of Christ. Word Study: The word translated "mystery" in the ESV is translated "secret" in the Williams translation, and "hidden truth" in the Beck translation.

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.

Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 3:1-3

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles - assuming you have heard of the stewarship of God's grace that was given to me for you , how the mystery was made know to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

*ETS:

What have I been writing about? The mystery of God which concerns you Gentiles, a mystery that was given to me as a sacred trust - the very mystery and revelation that has landed me in prison, (surely everyone has heard the talk about my refusal to stop telling Gentiles they can come to God by grace through faith in Christ). Yet in all of this, I consider myself a prisoner for Christ Jesus on your behalf.

*DTFTD:

Ephesians 3:1-3 reminds the Christian of the responsibility he or she has in furthering the Kingdom of Christ. First, Paul could not stop telling about the mystery of God 's reconciliation through faith in Christ. Paul considered the message a sacred trust for which he would give an account. When he mentioned the word "stewardship," he was stressing a commission responsibility. The word he chose for "stewardship" is a compound Greek word (i.e., it is comprised of two or more words). The first word is the Greek word for "house" (oikos) and the second is the word for "law" (nomos). Together the meaning is "the law of the house."(Wuest, vol. 1, 81). The image that would come to mind is one of a house administrator. The house administrator was responsible to take the rules outlined by the master of the house and see to it that everything was attended to according to prescription. The key words in Paul's administration were "God's grace." As an administrator, given charge by the Master, Paul was to publicly proclaim the grace of God, which was a mystery to the world, but a revelation to those who would come to faith in Christ. Christians are no less responsible to echo the message of God's grace to the current generations of the world. Remember, we also will give an account for the sacred trust of the Gospel of God's grace through Christ. Second, Paul's suffering, (his imprisonment), was accepted as an honor in service to others for the cause of Christ. Christians in the United States need such courage and commitment. We should speak the Gospel regardless of the consequence. There should not be any law in our world that would rank above the "law of the house" (our stewardship, our administrative responsibility to fill the every room with the fragrance of God's grace in the work of Christ on the cross). Third, Paul said the stewardship and suffering began at a special moment in his life - the moment of revelation when the mystery was made personal. God divinely communicated grace to Paul's own heart, and from that day he became a steward, a witness, a sufferer for the cause, a prisoner for Christ. Let me ask the following questions: 1. Do we understand our stewardship, our assigned duty of filling the world with the message of God's grace? 2. Are we willing to suffer anything to get the Word of the Gospel to those who have yet to hear? 3. Have you lost the thrill of the day you came to know the Lord? Paul's words in Ephesians 3:1-3 call us to examine ourselves in light of his example.

*EDS:

"Sing them over again to me, Wonderful words of life; Let me more of their beauty see, Wonderful words of life; Words of life and beauty, Teach me faith and duty: Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life."

Hymn: "Wonderful Words of Life" - Philip P. Bliss, 1838-1876.

INGREDIENTS: Stewardship, suffering, and a special moment. Word Study: "Mystery" is "a secret purpose of God which when uncovered is understood by the Spirit -taught believer." (Wuest, vol. 1).

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.

Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 2:20 b - 22

ESV

20b ". . . Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling for God by the Spirit."

*ETS:

Christ Jesus is the key, the corner stone to the whole structure, and you are the holy temple he is building for the dwelling of God by His Spirit. As Jew and Gentile come together in Christ the temple grows and expands. You are part of the living temple of God!

*DTFTD:

Our God does not dwell in temples of human construction (Acts 17:24). Actually, according to the Old Testament, when King David suggested the building of a temple for God, God replied, "In all the places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built me a house of cedar?'" God did not ask David or any leader to build him a house. God did allow Solomon to build the temple for His Name, but the temple was never the dwelling place of God. So why the temple? The temple in Jerusalem was filled with symbolism that spoke of many realities in God's covenant with his people. God's name was associated with the temple and the temple provided opportunity for the people of God to obey the law in reference to sacrifice and worship. In Jesus' day things were different. When Jesus visited the temple in Jerusalem, he did not think nearly as much of it as did the disciples. The temple of Jesus' day was a monument to King Herod's architectural reputation and part of his political strategy to keep peace with the Jews while enforcing Roman law. Jesus told the disciples of the time when not one stone of Herod's temple would be left upon another, for it was not the dwelling place of God (Matt. 24:2). What the disciples failed to see was the Temple of God standing before them in the person of Jesus Christ. Speaking of his body Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" ( see John 2:19-22). The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ started the construction of the temple of God's dwelling. Today, all who are in Christ, the Chief Cornerstone, are part of God's holy temple. The church is the temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19), and every member of the church must yield his or her body, as a living sacrifice to God for his use and glory (Romans 12:2; I Cor. 6:20).

*EDS:

I am resolved to follow the Saviour, Faithful and true each day; Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth, He is the living way.

I will hasten to Him, hasten so glad and free, Jesus, greatest, highest, I will come to Thee.

Hymn, "I Am Resolved" James Fillmore 1849-1936.

INGREDIENTS: God's Spirit dwells in the Christian. Word Study: "together" is used twice in out ESV translation and each use is compounded with the preceding word. For example in verse twenty-one the Greek word is translated using two words "framed together." The Greek is comprised of two words, one meaning "joint" and the other meaning "lay." Literally the word speaks of a well compacted, close fitting union. The Church should display a unity that is strong in fellowship and faith. The other word is translated "builded together." (v22). The Greek words here would speak of the Christian's need of others in body for completeness in construction. We are one in Christ and we need one another in order to be what God has designed.

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.

Spiritual Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: about 1 truth
Servings Per Verse: Unknown

Text: Ephesians 2:20

ESV

"built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.

*ETS:

Who says the Jew and Gentile are now one? The special messengers (apostles) and the inspired expounders (prophets) who proclaim to you Jesus Christ. It is like the apostles and prophets are the foundation whereon you stand, but Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone -everything is set in order and comes together in Christ.

*DTFTD:

"God's Vital Word" is another title for my blog. You can read the label to get an overview of a passage, but hopefully you are also reading the Word of God. We must realize how vital the Word of God is to our growth as the body of Christ, and therefore how essential it is for those who have the responsibility of proclaiming the Word to give diligence to accurate proclamation. The Apostle Paul did not lay claim to a title that granted him exclusive privilege of proclamation of the Word of God. His mention of the prophets alludes to the list of gifts in Ephesians 4:11, and clearly implies the responsibility of all current evangelists, pastors and teachers to echo with accuracy the message originally given by the Apostles of Christ. The gifts Christ gave the church are individuals who have been given some particular responsibility in conveying the Word of God for the benefit of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). I am honored to be pastor of a church with gifted teachers of the Word of God. I appreciate their diligent labor in conveying the message of Christ. However, I have one question: If we truly believe the apostles and prophets have given foundational teaching that brings into focus the cornerstone, Jesus Christ, why would we not faithfully attend gatherings where this teaching is echoed by gifted teachers? I encourage you to make use of the gifts God has given. Attend the teaching sessions of those gifted to convey the glorious truth of Christ. If your church offers Sunday School, join a class. If your children are not in Sunday School, enroll them this Sunday! If your church has home Bible study groups, become an active faithful member. Don't let yourself off the hook, don't make excuses, take this as a vital assignment. You are built on the apostles and prophets, and the more you get under those who are gifted to echo their teaching the more you will sense your unity in the body of Christ.

*EDS:

"Enduring Word, thy strength abides
Like mountains firm, and ocean tides;
Man's feeble works grow old with time,
But thou art ageless and sublime:
What lasting splendor crowns thy page
Wherein God writes our heritage!"
(Hymn,"Revealing Word, Thy Light Portrays" - Dimitri S. Bortniansky, 1752-1825)

INGREDIENTS: The importance of the ministry of the apostles and prophets in proclaiming Christ. Word Study: The word "prophets" in the Christian church refers to a person gifted for the exposition of divine truth (Mounce, Interlinear for the Rest of Us, pg. 885).

*ESV- English Standard Version; ETS- Essence of the Text in a Sentence; DTFTD- Devotional Thought For The Day; EDS- Essence of the Devotional in a Sentence.