Don’t shift from……the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Comment: When I was a surgeon in Ethiopia I saw a lot of head injuries. I used to say to the students. ‘Remember the 3 M’s of head injuries in this area -Motorbikes, Machetes, and Mango trees!’ Here we have 3 M’s in our passage today! – Ministry, Mystery, Maturity! 1. Ministry – Paul’s Ministry was centred as written above in the gospel! Paul’s call to the service is described in some detail in Acts 9. In summary Paul was initially breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, on his way to act out his anger against Jesus suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” God sent a messenger to Paul who said as commanded you are “a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” A command which he obviously took very seriously. This passage ends “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” 2. Mystery Again the gospel is highlighted for it is the mystery! It was hinted at, sometimes very strongly throughout the Old Testament. But then the Messiah came and, crucified, resurrected and ascended, Jesus is the mystery hinted at before but now plainly presented for all men to hear about and act upon! 3. Maturity The gospel here again is the central part of developing maturity! God doesn’t save us and reconcile us to Himself us for us to be spiritually ignorant! His desire is to write His Word on our minds and for us by the help of the Holy Spirit to allow it to flow out from our mouths and our finger tips. He wants that maturity to guide our feet in righteous paths. He wants us to reflect the character of Christ! The core of Ministry is “teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.“
Proverbs 8: 5 – O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
Prayer: Thank You for the gospel!
As I read it! 