There’s a song by Casting Crowns about going out on the mission field, which says ‘how refreshing to know you don’t need me … how amazing to find that you want me’. One of the reasons Christians often drag the chain in outreach (sharing their faith) is because we don’t see the enormous privilege it is to share in God’s mission.
In Ephesians 3:1, Paul is about to pray arguably the greatest prayer ever written down. Yet his thoughts are interrupted in v. 2. Now he comes back to that prayer in v. 14 (note the repeated ‘for this reason’); but what could possibly interrupt Paul from such an important and iconic moment? It was to explain ‘the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you’ (v. 2). Even more amazing than praying for the Ephesians to be strengthened with power through the Holy Spirit (Eph 3:14-19) is Paul telling the Ephesians of the enormous gift of being able to preach of ‘the boundless riches of Christ’ (v. 8).
But how is it that Paul sees preaching the gospel as such a wonderful gift, given the unparalleled persecution he suffered for doing so (e.g. 2 Cor 11:24-27). It is because he truly understands the boundless riches of Christ; that through the forgiveness found in the cross, God now looks upon his people as perfect, spotless and blemish free. This is the one thing every human soul longs for; to be truly accepted just as we are. Paul saw this truth as of immeasurably greater importance to people than any opposition thrown his way.
Friends, may we continue to meditate on the boundless riches of Christ, so that we too can echo Paul’s sentiment, that to share in God’s mission is an amazing gift!
Brendan McLaughlin
