More on Ephesians.... This week I have been studying Chapter 3. If you haven't read it, do it! It's a quick, yet power packed chunk of scripture. I dove into this chapter at least three times. Each time, this verse grabbed at me...
"Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ" Ephesians 3:8
More specifically... "Less than the least." Paul, the writer of Ephesians, was in prison, shackled to a Roman guard for 24 hours a day. He was in prison for proclaiming Christ, which was, obviously, frowned upon. With regard to life before Jesus, Paul said in Galatians 1:13-14...
"For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers."
Paul tried to destroy the spread of the gospel and persecuted the church of God. This same man humbly proclaims, "I am less than the least of all the Lord's people." So humble and mission focused, lacking pride and self righteousness. Therein lies my fascination and "grab" with this verse.
Humility
No matter what he did...
Regardless of where he came from...
This Grace Was Given
Paul could have easily left that sentence intro off entirely, but he did not. He recognized the glory was not his own. He grasped that his transformation was not a self-righteous act. He understood there was so much more to life than just what he could see. He knew he did not deserve and could not earn the grace gifted to him by a God he could not see.
In his humility, his testimony rang loud in this partial sentence of scripture!
Have you struggled with self righteousness?
Have you ever viewed yourself as "not that bad?"
Do the words "I deserve" usually accomany something fabulous?
Have you struggled with self righteousness?
Have you ever viewed yourself as "not that bad?"
Do the words "I deserve" usually accomany something fabulous?
A Word from Becky:
I would LOVE it if you linkedup with a post about what God is showing you in the Word, or in your life. Please also stop by and see what God has been teaching my beautiful co-hosts this week:
Into the Word Wednesday Blog Hop Rules:1. Write a post about what God is teaching you this week.2. Follow the host and hostess via GFC.3. Grab a button to put on your blog - the more the merrier!4. Check out (and comment) other people's blogs and be blessed by all the sisters and brothers around the world!If you are interested in co-hosting in the future, send Becky an email and let me know!
That's excellent advice by Paul, fully inspired by God Himself.
ReplyDeleteI am ever stressing to my students the necessity of humility in all things.
Some people just don't get it.
And there's another which I was just reminded of, from Philippians 2:3-4: 3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Adore that scripture! Thanks for adding to the conversation, Jeremy!
DeleteHumility is such a hard concept for our narcissist world. It is interesting that what I posted about thinking too lowly of myself is ALSO pride. Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing sister!
I think this is such a great lesson that really everyone should read. Perhaps an e-book? Sorry I just got to visit. Had a rough few days after the link up. Catching up now!
ReplyDeleteOh & forgot to mention it was an honor to co-host with you!
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