Together in Christ #10

We are in Ephesians 3, where Paul is talking about His part in God's glorious plan, which is often referred to as The Gospel. We pick up in verse:

 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. 

This gospel, this great news, is that God, in Christ, has finally unfolded how He planned to bring all kinds of people together as His people. God was using Paul, as well as the other apostles and prophets, to reveal His plan.  God's grace is a big part of the picture, as we saw in chapters 1 and 2. That includes Paul's part in this plan. Paul had been given grace to preach to non-Jews about all these blessings we have in Christ, as well as to "bring to light" for everyone - Jew and Gentile alike - how to be reconciled to our Creator. A big part of this plan is "the church", the called out congregation of God, this multi-colored mosaic masterpiece God is putting together - that's what this word manifold means. The only ones who can now clearly and fully see this masterpiece are those in the heavens - God the Father, Christ, and His angels, but some day it will be clear for all of us to see. Meanwhile, how can we appreciate this masterpiece, this master plan of God? We can boldly, confidently, yet thankfully and humbly come before God through Christ, Who is there at God's right hand, knowing that we have access to His heart and his hearing. Paul gets the picture. Therefore, he says in verse 13: "don't worry about me here suffering in prison for the Gospel. "I have been able to see a glimpse of the masterpiece, the glory of God, and you, by faith, are part of it too."