Suffering For Christ: A Walk Through Ephesians Chapter 3

“1 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. 8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.”

Paul describes himself in verse 1 as a “prisoner of Christ Jesus.” It is quite interesting to note that while writing this letter, Paul was in prison in Rome. While most saw Paul as a prisoner to the Roman empire, Paul saw himself as a prisoner in Christ. It is the state of mind that sets Paul apart from others. It is this mindset that should set Christians apart from the world. If we are suffering and stumbling through some difficult weather in our life we can either have the approach that we have to endure it or we can say we get to endure it. It is in the way Christians handle difficulty that will truly show the glory of God. If in the deepest pits of our lives we can stand tall and proclaim that Jesus is the one who we are suffering for, we can stand at the gates of heaven and hear Jesus say, “Welcome my good and faithful servant.” Paul considered it a great honor to suffer for the sake of Jesus. He considered it a victory for Christ rather than a hardship in his life.

Paul talks of a “mysterious plan” in verse 3. This mysterious plan is that the Gentiles are in line for God’s inheritance just as the Jews are. This would have been great news for the Gentiles who for so long were distanced from both Jews and God. When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he received a revelation that God is not a God who is only for the Jews but rather a God for all people. Everyone is in line to receive the inheritance God has prepared. It is Paul’s conviction that Jesus is the God for all people that could very well have led to the spread of the gospel throughout the world. If it were not for Paul’s steadfastness in proclaiming a God for all people, Christianity may not have been able to reach the worldwide lengths to which it now resides.

Paul goes on to describe his mission on Earth to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. He says that God has revealed the mystery to him. The world revealed is important here because it means that the mystery has always been there but no one knew it yet. God has always been a God for all people but it is not until Paul begins preaching of that news that the mystery is revealed. It is because of this revelation that Paul gains the honor of God’s grace and his imprisonment to Christ. Through the imprisonment of Christ he is in position to serve the living God with his entire life. To suffer for Christ is to gain his glory.

To suffer for Christ is not a glorious thought, however. To suffer may mean more to one person than it will to another but nothing of greatness comes easily. It is through sacrifice and perseverance that we may prevail into the glory of God. This glory is not of our own power, and we must always remember that. It is easy to get prideful of amazing works and it is only through God that we even have the ability to do those great works. Satan was expelled from heaven for his pride. We too should not miss the kingdom of heaven for our glory here in earth.

“14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”

The last verses of chapter three serve as a prayer for spiritual growth. When the Jews prayed, they usually did so standing with their palms raised toward heaven. Here, Paul says he falls to his knees in prayer. Paul’s prayer here is so heartfelt that he falls to his knees to pray to God for growth. It is through the love and grace of God that we have life and that we can now have a new life in Christ Jesus. Though it is a love that we cannot comprehend, it is one that can empower us to do great things for his kingdom. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”