THE MYSTERY THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment, to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Ephesians 1:8b-10 (NIV)
Have you ever wondered, God, what are You doing? I have. I've endured personal trials that included car accidents, health problems, surgeries and even cancer. Then I watch the news and see wars, suffering and evil around the world. It can seem as though everything is spinning out of control. But what if God is carrying out a plan much bigger than anything we can see?
Paul says God has made known to us the mystery of His will. In the Bible, a mystery is not a puzzle to solve. It is God's plan that was hidden for centuries but has now been revealed through Jesus Christ.
Part of that mystery is wonderfully simple. Through Christ, God welcomes both Jew and Gentile into His family. Anyone who places their faith in Jesus can be forgiven, adopted and made one of God's children. Salvation comes by grace through faith, not by race, religious background or good works.
Paul also says God has given us wisdom and understanding. This is more than knowledge. It is the ability to see life from God's perspective. Proverbs teaches, The fear of the LORD
is the beginning of wisdom. As we learn to honor and trust Him, we begin to recognize that He is always at work, even when we cannot understand what He's doing.
That's a comforting truth today. Our world often looks chaotic. Wars rage. Families struggle. Evil appears to gain ground. Yet none of this has caught God by surprise. History is not drifting aimlessly. God is moving everything toward the day when His plan is complete, and Jesus Christ reigns over all creation. One day, every wrong will be made right. Everything in heaven and on earth will be brought under Christ's perfect rule. Truth and justice will win.
When life doesn't make sense, remember this: we may not see the whole picture, but God does.
Application: Ask God to help you see your circumstances from His perspective instead of your own. Thank Him that His plan is unfolding exactly as He intends and that your future is secure in Christ.
Prayer: Father, thank You for revealing Your great plan through Jesus Christ. Give me wisdom to trust You when life is confusing and faith to rest in the certainty that You are working all things toward Your perfect purpose. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?