Week 8, Day 5: Understanding the Mystery of God
Today’s Reading: Ephesians 5:1-6:24
Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…
Many people today seem to think that the word of God is not really understandable. They seem to think that it is impossible to interpret His word in the way that He expects. This attitude is revealed by acting as if any personal interpretation is fine, and acceptable to God. But, there are not multiple interpretations to what God has said. When He spoke His mind, He did so for the purpose of conveying what He expected of His creation (that’s us!). In our reading, Paul outlines for us the method by which God revealed His mind for us. We can see the progression of that revelation from the mind of God to our receiving it today!
First, Paul said that that the revelations were made known to him (Ephesians 3:3, 5). God revealed His mind to the apostles so that it could be conveyed to others. If God did not speak, how could we possibly know what His desires for us are? Paul also speaks of this process in 1 Corinthians 2:10-12. These passages show us that the revelation process began with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God revealed His mind, through the Holy Spirit, to the apostles and prophets.
Secondly, Paul wrote the message down (Ephesians 3:3). Paul spent his life preaching the gospel message. But, if the revealed word was not written down, it would never have been able to last through the ages! The message would have been forgotten, or corrupted if handed down solely by word of mouth. So, the inspired men of the first century wrote down the message just as the Holy Spirit directed.
Because it was written down, those who read it can understand Paul’s insight into the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:4). We can know what Paul wrote, which means we can know what God expected the Christians of the first century to know. The message has not changed, so we can learn by reading the inspired words of the apostle Paul (as well as the other inspired writers) what is required of us today.
People ask if we can understand the word of God alike today. The answer is a clear and decisive “YES!” But, that will only be the case if believe in the authority of the message that was revealed. God revealed His mind. That should make us think that the message is pretty important. In fact, it is vitally important. God was not making suggestions. He was not trying to give us some good ideas. He was revealing what He requires of us. We cannot discount that, and make it as if it is unimportant. God has not taken the revelation of His will lightly, and we should not take the receiving of His will lightly! If we believe that the message of the Bible is the revelation of the mind of God, then we should be dedicated to obedience. That should keep us from trying to figure out why we don’t have to follow the instructions that we find in the New Testament, like so many of the religious world (and increasingly in the Lord’s church) seem to be doing!
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