⏱ 8 min read

• Hallo 🤗, comment vous vous portez? We’re halfway through Ephesians already, you can still join in for this🔥🤍
• There is quite a lot to unpack from Ephesians 3 and we can’t exhaust it all in one devotional.
• As such, we are really looking forward to your lessons, insights, comments, etc., so that we and many others can benefit from them also 🔥🤗🤍

“Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the MYSTERY made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.” – Ephesians 3:2-3

If you’ve followed the readings so far, you’d have seen three or four things that grace is NOT:

1. Grace is not cheap! It has been paid by Jesus’ precious blood!
2. Grace is not earned by our righteous works! (the law leads to sin and death)
3. Grace is not a license to sin! (We don’t have to abuse it!)
4. Grace is not the absence of trouble.

So then, what is grace? My mom once told me that, “Grace gives us what we don’t deserve…” In essence, grace is God’s unmerited favour. The first thing grace is… are you ready for this. Alright, here it comes: Grace is a mystery!🔎

Grace cannot be understood because it is a mystery. You may look down on someone (as the Jews looked down on the Gentiles), but you’ll realize that grace will find them.

Look at Abraham, who was from an idolatrous family. But he was just called by God to share in God’s grace (amongst all the people in the world at that time).

• Can you explain how Bathsheba – the same lady through whom David sinned in adultery and murder – became the mother of David’s successor, Solomon? (Amidst the numerous wives and children David had?) That’s a mystery.
• Look at Peter. He denied Jesus three times (swearing on top); yet Jesus made Him leader of the church.
• Grace can cause you to be chosen and blessed for no apparent reason.

25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 
26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 
27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen! (Romans 16:25-27)

You don’t have to do something to receive grace. You don’t need first class, British accent, nor high society connections. Grace can just find you and give you things you don’t deserve!

One day (some time in 2012), I posted on my Facebook wall that I needed new basketball sneakers. 
A complete stranger in Canada (he was not even following me) just sent a message request, asked for the cost and my details, and he sent me the money via Western Union. 
I hadn't done anything to deserve it; he didn't know me; he had no reason to but he just did. Well beloved, that is just grace. 

• Once, someone made a comment about a funny actor in Ghana call Lil Win.
• This guy had no rich background; no formal education; no handsome face, no high soceity connections.
• But at the time, the person saw Lil win going to board his flight and he was just walking majestically, smiling and dashing out money to his fans.

He said (paraphrased), "Eii, ewiase paah ni? (this world is strange), Look at this guy being successful beyond what I can ever imagine." 

It is said that, “Grace is not fair, but you can’t do anything about it.” Receive your portion of undeserved grace in Jesus’ name!

God is A Capable Father

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

God can handle any situation we give Him. No problem is too tough for Him. Nothing is beyond His ability. But the first thing we’ve got to do is bring it to Him. What decision are you facing this week? What mountain needs to be moved?

• Cancer? Bankruptcy? Scholarship? Can’t break a bad habit? “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37).
• In Jeremiah 32:27 God says, “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
• It’s almost like God is saying, “I dare you. Think up a problem that I can’t solve. Is anything too hard for me?”

Rick Warren shared something that blessed me and I believe to the true for us all:

Have you heard a child say something like, “My father can do anything! My daddy can buy me a plane! My daddy can beat your daddy!” I really thought that was true of my father. But as I grew up, I began to have my eyes opened.

“I realized that when it came to money, my dad had limited resources. When it came to advice, sometimes he was just guessing too. My guess was as good as his because he’s an imperfect father.”

Ephesians 3:20 says, “God . . . is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes!” (TLB). 

• I don’t know about you, but have a pretty wild imagination. I can think up some pretty big dreams, thoughts and desires.
• But God essentially says, “Yo! You think up the greatest thing you think I could do in your life and I can beat that ten times over. I can top that.” He is a capable Father. 

• What can you expect from your Father in heaven? “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
• He has unlimited resources, unlimited energy, unlimited knowledge, unlimited time.  He can meet ALL of your needs. 

The Lord’s Prayer gives us an example of that. It says that God, as our Father, provides three things: 

• provision for today (“give us today our daily bread”);
• pardon for yesterday (“forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors”);
• protection for tomorrow (“lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”) (Matthew 6:11-13 NIV).

In today’s language, God might say, “I’ve got all the bases covered—present, past, future. Your present?  I’ll provide. Your past? You blew it, but it’s okay; it’s forgiven. Your future? Don’t worry; don’t fear. I’ll take care of yesterday’s failures, today’s frustrations, and tomorrow’s fears because I am a capable Father.”

• Is there something from your past that you need to ask God’s forgiveness for? Spend time in prayer now—and then trust that He has forgiven you!
• What do you need for the present? What fear about the future do you need to turn over to God today?

Your Heavely Father is a capable, perfect Father! He’s got you covered!

Hey, you're blessed and highly favoured and dearly loved! Do share your lessons from Ephesians 3. Remember to tag us and your friends on 📲:
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Disclaimer: this post contains portions of messages and text originally shared by Ps Rick Warren (who is one of my mentors in the faith).