Pastor Mike's Blog

By Pastor Paul

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6

It is not good to jump into a conversation half way in. You will be lost getting into a movie after missing the opening scenes. Do you start reading a twenty chapter book at chapter ten? You do not know the players? Who is the hero? Who is the villain? What is the problem? Where is the plot going? Knowing what came in the beginning gives you the context and understanding for what is happening in the present and what to expect in the future. You do yourself a disservice if you jump into God’s story towards the end without finding out what happened before you. You might be tempted to think it is all about you. You might conclude you are the star, since you have no idea what God has been doing for the last 6,000 years of human history before you stepped on the stage.

At 30,000 feet God’s plan is clear. He wants to dwell with people that reflect his character. Jews and Gentiles. He wants a people from every nation and ethnic group. He wants diversity. He wants variety. He created Man in His image to function in His character to partner in His will. Sin scattered this hope but God unfolded His plan. He called Abraham to be the father of many nations, the patriarch of the faithful, Jews and Gentiles from every walk of life. The Jews were called to begin a priesthood ministry with a centralized temple for the nations. They were to be a living example of God-focused living. God placed them in the most volatile, attractive, traveled strip of land in the ancient world. He put them before the Gentile world to live out His character, partnering in his plan. However, they left God’s will to chase after other nations. Still, God continued to tell his story.

Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again making it possible for God to dwell in Man rather than with him. Christ sent out his Jewish Apostles to once again live a priesthood ministry to the Gentile nations. Now they, His followers, were the temple, a living building. With Pentecost and God’s enabling Spirit the apostles could carry the message in every language and tongue. It is no mystery, God’s story is about Him dwelling with people that reflect His character, people from every nation and people group.

Read Ephesians 3:1-21.