8 July - Ephesians 3

Today we’re reading Ephesians 3 together in the Tattoo Church Reading Plan. Below are a couple things to think about:

1. Paul begins this chapter by describing himself as a “prisoner” of God for the Gentiles (non-Jews). Which sounds weird. What Paul is saying is that God called him to do something he never would have thought about doing. Paul was a very respected religious leader with a promising career teaching Jewish people but God called him to preach to non-Jews about Jesus. This certainly doesn’t sound like a career path Paul would have chosen but he was obedient to God.
2. He then describes how he learned that God valued all people equally, Jews and non-Jews alike. Paul said this in response to Jewish people who claimed God valued the Jews over other people.
3. Paul ends this chapter telling the Ephesians that he prays they will fully understand the love Jesus offers us.

Have you ever had to do something you really didn’t want to do? Have you ever felt like God wanted you to do something you didn’t want to do? Maybe it was that God wanted you to talk to that person no one ever talks to, make a career change, to forgive someone you don’t want to forgive, to be more generous with you money or serve others? Ask God to show you what your next steps are in growing closer to him and to give you the strength to take them.