When we think of apostles like Peter, John, James, Paul, and company, we can’t help but think of the effect Jesus had on their lives. Peter goes from being impetuously reckless to a mature shepherd filled with wisdom. John changes from a “son of thunder” (Mark 3:17; Luke 9:54) to the apostle of love. Saul of Tarsus stops persecuting Christians and starts preaching Jesus (Acts 9:1-22). As time goes on, he is better known as the apostle Paul (Acts 13:9). The list goes on and on concerning people who come in contact with Jesus and their life story is changed.
How about you? Has being close to Jesus changed your life? Has He written a new story on your heart? Do you think about Him throughout the day? Are you sensitive to His teachings? Do you live the life of a servant so Jesus can mold you and use you to bless others?
Read about the sacrificial servant Paul in Ephesians 3:1-13. Then listen to Write Your Story by Francesca Battistelli. Then be extra submissive to Jesus writing His story in your life.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory.
