May 7th | Tell the Good News
A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS
TELL THE GOOD NEWS
Ephesians 3:6 “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (Read Ephesians 3:2-6)
Of all people, Jesus chose St. Paul to serve as a missionary to Gentiles. As St. Paul described himself, a Jew of Jews, it was almost unthinkable that he would associate with Gentiles. Yet, Jesus personally chose and appointed Paul as an Apostle and sent him to proclaim the gospel among the non-Jewish world.
As hard as it was for the Jews to understand this dramatic conversion of St. Paul, in today’s devotional verse there is a simple explanation for it. This change was brought about by the gospel preaching and teaching of St. Paul. No, it was not due to his persuasive oratory. It was by the power of the gospel word he proclaimed. The gospel word was, as he wrote in Romans 1:16, “. . . the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”
The power of the gospel changed the hearts and lives of Gentiles to become heirs of God’s kingdom, members of the body of Christ, to share in the promise of eternal life and salvation that Jesus earned and won for them by His life, death, and resurrection. The Gospel’s power continues to this day and will until Jesus brings this world to an end. In fact, it is only through the people of the world hearing the gospel that they will receive these blessings from God. “As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Romans 10:11-12) God continues to send out into the world preachers and teachers of the gospel because He wants all residents of this earth, “Jews and Gentiles” to saved. Romans 10 continues, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
God be praised that His Holy Spirit sets apart Paul’s, Peter’s, and John’s throughout the world to tell the good news of Jesus. No matter what ethnicity, Jesus died and rose again for the salvation of all.
Prayer: Give me a heart, O Lord, to support and encourage the sending of missionaries throughout the world to tell the good news of salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hark the voice of Jesus crying, “Who will go and work today?
Fields are white and harvests waiting— Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calleth; Rich reward He offers thee.
Who will answer, gladly saying, “Here am I, send me, send me”?
If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus, You can say He died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked With the judgment’s dread alarms,
You can lead the little children To the Savior’s waiting arms.
If you cannot be a watchman, Standing high on Zion’s wall,
Pointing out the path to heaven, Off’ring life and peace to all,
With your prayers and with your bounties
You can do what God commands;
You can be like faithful Aaron, Holding up the prophet’s hands.
Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,”
While the multitudes are dying And the Master calls for you.
Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calleth, “Here am I, send me, send me!” (LSB 826)