Know And Tell

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; 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:  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.

Ephesians 3:8-10 

Education is like a wristwatch, it is for use, not for show.  God had educated Paul thoroughly in the mystery of Christ.  What use was Paul to make of the knowledge he had received by the revelation of the Holy Spirit?  He had been given ‘grace’ to ‘preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery…to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.’  What Paul is saying is that the preaching of Christ has cosmic value.  It is not just useful in the gathering together of the Jews and Gentiles into ‘the same body,’ but also that the entities who exist as the ‘principalities and powers in the heavenly places,’ might understand, ‘the manifold wisdom of God.’  This means that the preaching of Christ as it continues today, wherever it does, accomplishes the same purpose, to gather together all the people of God into the one body and to make the wisdom of God clear to whoever else He wants to understand it.  This gives us every reason to seek to understand the mystery of Christ, and to make much of Him.  We are not apostles, but we follow their lead in ceasing not ‘to teach and preach Jesus Christ.’

Our Wise and Holy God,
we rejoice that You have bestowed upon us
the great privilege of proclaiming Christ.
We praise You that as the gospel goes forth,
the Holy Spirit takes it up
and calls to Christ all who should receive it.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning