“Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory” (Ephesians 3:13).

We know that there are those in this world who hate the Gospel.  We also know that the Lord knows all things and has planned beforehand for our salvation.  Therefore, what happens as we suffer for the sake of the Gospel must have a purpose that is fulfilled in God’s plan.  This is why we are told to rejoice that we are included in suffering for the sake of the Gospel.

Lord, this is a mystery that I do not fully understand.  Help me Lord, to see that in You is hope and a future.  Guide me in the way of life that You have established so that I may now and always be led by You in the hope You give.  Let me not be discouraged by my suffering that will happen, knowing that all things are in Your hands and that You have promised to work them together for good.

Lord Jesus, You were no stranger to suffering.  All along the way there were those who were literally out to get You and we know where it ended: at the cross.  Help me through my times of struggle knowing that all things have always been in Your hands.  Guide me according to Your goodness and mercy to live through all that comes my way trusting in Your purpose for all things.  Amen.   

“This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:11-12).

The purpose fulfilled in Christ was determined at the beginning.  Do not believe those who deceive when they tell you these things were made up along the way.  The Lord is purposeful and has accomplished your salvation according to His eternal promise.  Trust Him and have confidence in what He has done for you.  Through Jesus You have gained salvation.

Lord, the world has been fighting against You from the beginning, but You knew they would.  There are those who try to deceive and lead people astray, but You knew that too.  Help me Lord, to see through the fog of this world and live in the hope You give me through Christ.  Guide me in Your goodness to look to You in confidence.  You have already done all that needs to be done.

Lord Jesus, in so many places in the Gospels you said, “My time is not yet.”  You knew what the time would be and how the world would press in on You.  In those simple words You express the truth that Your eternal purpose is of old.  You know what You are doing and You know what is needed.  Help me to trust You Lord so that I may now and always be led by You in the hope given by Your grace.  Amen.

“So that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10).

The church is to reflect the wisdom of God.  Because of sin and the world’s ways, the church often also reflects the foolishness of God’s people.  In both cases, the reality of God’s presence is made known.  It is amazing how the world tries so hard to shut down the Lord and His Gospel, but each time this is done there is a new place where the Gospel reaches out into the world.  The Gospel is real and all else is the illusion.

Lord, help me to see through the fog of this age so that I might live into the hope You have given me through the Gospel.  Whether others see it or not, that is Your business, but You have called for me to be faithful.  Teach me, Lord, what this means so that, walking in Your Spirit, I may be a witness of Your presence in the world.  Let me hold fast to the Gospel and stand firm in the truth You have revealed through Christ my Savior.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way for as many as would follow You.  Let me be counted among those who are trusting in Your grace and mercy.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see the path before me and chose the way of righteousness.  Lead me, O Lord, with eyes to see, ears to hear, and a willingness to obey all that You command.  Only in You do I have eternal hope.  Amen.

“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things” (Ephesians 3:8-9)

Who are the saints?  They are those who have overcome sin and death in this world through the grace of Christ.  In other words, they trust Christ, for Christ has overcome for us.  All who believe are given the power to become as Paul was.  In this mystery, the faith is established and it grows.  Live into the life you have been given through Christ and come into His grace and mercy.  Know that in Jesus is all hope.

Lord, it is so simple, but this world makes it so complex.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of life by Your grace which You have purchased from the cross.  Bring to light all that needs to be seen in order that in the revelation of You who are the light of the world, I may walk humbly and learn the mysteries of the faith.  Your gift of grace is beyond all that this world has to offer.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that all who believe may have life and have it abundantly.  You went to the cross doing for each one of us what none of us could do.  In You is the hope for all ages.  Lead me, O Lord, today and every day to abide in the truth of the revelation You have made.  Guide me to learn to be like You and to conform my life to Yours.  Through all things, lift me up to be with You now and forever.  Amen.

“Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power” (Ephesians 3:7).

A minister is not the expert, only one who gives away what has been given to him.  In other words, the minister is one who ministers to those who receive.  In that sense, we have all been called to be minister to others in Jesus name.  We are to love our neighbor as Jesus loves them.  We are to care for others as we have been cared for.  Come then in the hope of Jesus and share as it has been shared with you.

Lord, teach me these things for which You have called me and for which You died, in order to give me the grace I need to be able to do them.  Remove the obstacles that get in the way and lift me up to do the ministry You have prepared for me.  Help me to live this out in and through You.  Help me to see things simply and live them out graciously.  Through all things, help me to become whom You are making me to be.

Lord Jesus, You know all of the things that were accomplished for our sake through the cross.  Help me now accomplish what You have planned for me through my life.  Lead me so that I may be whom You are making me to be.  Guide me so that I may do what You have planned for me to do.  Through all things, show me in Your goodness how to live out the Gospel that You have given, once, for all.  Amen.

“Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:5-6)

Humans like to think they’re special.  We are all the same.  Each of us has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.  For each one of us, Christ went to the cross so that we might have a new life and have it abundantly.  Christ died once for all.  The promise of Jesus is to reach all people.  For all people is the offer made.  That includes you and those who will of hear His promise through you.

Lord, You knew the plans You made before the foundation of the world.  You know the issues that are with each one of us and the difficulty we have in trusting You above all other things.  Lead me, Lord, to see that the “for all” means exactly that.  Help me to be led by You so that I may share with others what You have given me and make this available to all with whom I share the Good News of Christ.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that as many as would turn to You would have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of salvation You have made possible so that I would know the truth and share the truth You have revealed.  Guide me Lord now and forever so that I may always abide in You and freely share with everyone whom I meet the great news of Your salvation.  Amen.

“That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.  By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:3-4)

What we have been given is not some cleverly devised story, but the truth that has been given through revelation.  By the revelation of God, His mysteries are revealed.  Through the Word, His mysteries are revealed.  Come then into the mystery of God which has been revealed to You, and dwell with Him now and forever.  You have been redeemed by His provision and called for His purpose.

Lord, lead me where I need to go.  Lead through my rebellion and protestations so that I may be guided in Your goodness to see that in You is all hope and the glory of eternity.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may now and always look to You, the hope of all people, in the mystery of the revelation You have made before all people, in order see the salvation You have made possible for all.

Lord Jesus, through You alone is all hope and glory.  You have come so that all who believe might have life and have it abundantly.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may now and always walk humbly with You, my Lord and Master.  Teach me this day what You would have me know.  Walk me ever deeper in the mystery of the faith.  Lead me this day, my Savior, and share through me the truth of the gift of grace You have given for all, that others might believe and be saved.  Amen.

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you” (Ephesians 3:1-2)

We have been created for relationship and we live this out within community.  The difficulty of the sin of the old Adam is that we are often looking at things through the jaded eyes of just the self.  Paul was sent for the sake of the others.  You too have those whom the Lord desires that you would serve.  Will you move beyond yourself and live into the life the Lord gives you in His grace and mercy?

Lord, You have given me all I need to live in the salvation You have made possible through grace.  Guide me now to live in the purpose for which I have been created.  Lead me to see that in You alone is all hope and the eternal future You promise.  Let me begin now, living in and with You so that I may learn how to live in community and truly love my neighbor the way You love them.

Lord Jesus, there are so many things You have given us through the grace which is ours.  Help me this day to live faithfully into the truth of the salvation You have purchased for me.  Guide me to reflect on You and Your love for those around me.  Help me see that in You is all hope and glory.  Help me to share with those around me the witness of You in my life.  Guide me, Lord, in the truth of Your love.  Amen.

“In whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21-22).

Those who believe are being knitted together as the body of Christ.  In the mystery of the church, all the saints are a part of the body.  Each has their own part and purpose, and the Lord of all has chosen those who will be connected by His grace with Him forever.  Come and live into the invitation You have been given so that by grace and in faith You may know the riches of His provision.

Lord, teach me these things so that I may have a confidence in faith that You alone give, that through the faith You give, I am in Your salvation.  Guide me by Your grace to love my neighbor and You above all things.  Guide me to learn each day what You would have me know.  Teach me to rejoice in the privilege of abiding in You.  Now and forever, keep my eyes focused upon You.

Lord Jesus, in You is the hope for all of the ages.  You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  You have come to show the way and to lead the way of true life.  Let me be a part of Your congregation and a part of the building up of Your church.  Guide me in the goodness of the Father’s mercy to rejoice in each day that You give, knowing that all hope and an eternal future belong to those who believe in You.  Amen.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Ephesians 2:19-20″

It may not seem like much of a difference, but moving from being of this world to joining with Christ is as far apart as one can go in this age.  No longer are you alienated from God, for you have been reconciled by grace.  Come then and in that grace, live into the life for which You have been called.  Know that in the Lord is all hope and an eternal future for which you are being prepared.

Lord, bring my attention to the important things.  Turn my eye of my heart from the ways of this world and focus them upon You.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You is all hope.  Let me not think that I am alienated from You, but know that by Your grace, reconciliation has already been accomplished.  Guide me Lord in the grace You give in order that I may live into the new life You have promised and for which I am being prepared.

Lord Jesus, You have already done all that is needed and You have united me with You.  Let me not fall back into the way of this world, but boldly move forward in the hope and life that You have given me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth and let me always humbly walk abiding in You as You abide in me.  You are the foundation of all life and of the eternal life which is mine by grace.  May I always rejoice in this gift.  Amen.