Wed.’s Devo - The Mysteries

Read: Ephesians 1-6
Today, Paul talks about other “mysteries”. In Ephesians 1:9 he talks about the “mystery of his will.” This mystery is that it was God’s will to gather together all things in Christ. The “all things” has to do with anything or anyone who is predestined to be his own. They have all been sealed by the Holy Spirit as the earnest or advance on our inheritance.
Paul prays a powerful prayer in verses 17-23. He explains what his prayer means in Chapter 2. He explains how we have been given a spiritual mind and now we are spiritually seated with Christ in heavenly places. Verse 10 says that we are God’s fabric, which God made from the beginning of time with purposes to fulfill. This fabric is the building material for the temple of God. We are all building it together.
In the third chapter Paul talks about the mystery again. He reveals a little more about it. This part says that the Gentiles are to be a part of the Jewish promise. We are co-heirs with Israel.
In the fourth chapter we read of the gifts God gave to the church. These gifts are actually men: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Their purpose is to edify the body of Christ. We will need them to become the perfect man who is the fulness of Christ. Paul goes on to tell us how to hasten that process: put off the way we used to talk according to our old man and be renewed in the spirit of our mind. We have to put on the new man every day and make a conscious decision to think differently than our old man thinks. We have to see things in the light of the Word and the promises especially when they don’t seem to be happening. Our greatest test is when we have to hold on with no visible hope in sight. And, of course, it goes back to love. We have to walk in love, redeeming the time and knowing God’s will. Our joy must come from God so to sing the Word and to sing from our spirits is a great way to overcome depressing or disappointment. Praise is one of our greatest weapons.
Paul ends his letter with one of the most needed teachings on how to clothe ourselves in God and how to fight the devil and win. The devil is our only enemy and the Word is our sword.
Lord, may the eyes of our understanding be opened and may we know the hope of our calling.