Day 8

Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

from the Ephesians reading plan


Ephesians 3:1-13, Romans 11:1-36, Colossians 1:24-29

BY Rebecca Faires

I’m almost forty, but I sometimes still wonder if the other girls really like me. Our community is small and wonderful and welcoming; I’ve been here all my adult life. But I wonder… Are the other ladies having parties without me? Are they chatting with me because they enjoy my company or because they are very kind? Is everyone else in a club that I know nothing about? Is there something about me they don’t like? Should I not have let my hair go grey? Do they think I’m not doing a good job parenting my children? Is it my jokes?

No matter how loving and beloved we are, there are still little things that can make us doubt that we belong. And belonging is so important to us. I ache to feel cherished by my friends and family. And while it is possible my jokes are keeping some ladies at arm’s length, there is no doubt at all about my belonging in the family of God.

“In him we have boldness and confident access through faith in him” (Ephesians 3:12). It’s a done deal with Christ. We aren’t just acquaintances; we are part and parcel of His family tree. “You, though a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them and have come to share in the rich root” (Romans 11:17). Yes! We are blessed to share in the rich root of God’s blessing. What a relief to be invited into confident access.

And we don’t earn this boldness through our hard work at pleasing Him or trying to make our girlfriends laugh. “For [we] are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Our belonging is God’s gift to us, and we are now servants of the gospel of grace that unites (Ephesians 3:7). There are no earthly relationships that come close to that totally one-sided deal. His love is a free gift to us, and in exchange, we have the favor and lovingkindness of a King.

I like to imagine that the early Church was full of ladies just like us, hoping to belong, hoping to fit in, wondering if it was too soon to make jokes about the Pompeii earthquake. The beautiful truth is the Church is made up of all kinds of folks. But “God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The hope of Christ is our eternal belonging in His glory and presence.

Post Comments (45)

45 thoughts on "Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles"

  1. Hannah says:

    “… wondering if it was too soon to make jokes about the Pompeii earthquake.”
    Best laugh or loud moment in my SRT readings so far!

  2. Tigne Shelton says:

    By His Grace thanking God that He gives us grace

  3. Julianne Skaar says:

    Thankful for God’s grace and the working of His power

  4. Harriet Thomas says:

    I thank God for speaking to me while catching up on today’s devotional. Here is what I learned:
    I am part of Gods family tree
    I am rooted and grounded in love
    I am planted in rich roots Romans 11:17
    I am in the household of God
    I am serving the gospel of grace that unites
    Now, I will take these five reminders and slap Satan in the face if/when he tries to rise against me today. With love, HT

  5. Susan Lincks says:

    I belong to God which is all that matters to me.

  6. Sabrina McArthur says:

    Amen!

  7. Alise Butler says:

    Belonging is certainly something I’ve struggled with through out my life. I’m a recovering people pleaser and it wasn’t until my fiancé acknowledged it that I myself recognized and came to terms with it. Why should I worry about what others perceive of me when Christ made me and calls me good.

  8. K O says:

    I love that scripture can lead us all to different points. When I read the passage today it was the being grafted in part which stuck out to me. Just as easily as the chosen Jewish people chose to not follow Christ, therefore being a branch that was cut off, we who are gentiles are now grafted in, yet can also be cut off unless we cling to the root.

    Our comfort, and complacency in the gospel will be our down fall unless we cling to Christ. To be cut off would be the very worst thing, but God in his mercy, if we turned back would graft us back in.

    Oh how we belong to the root, although grafted we also were chosen to be his. How wonderful it is to know we belong. That Christ did all the work, and as the devotion said it is a free gift.

    Today may we believe where we are physically is where we belong. Yes that means in our city, our family & our church.

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