Today's Passage - Ephesians 3:1-3

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 3:1-3   "For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles - Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly."   Mystery of gospel is a turning point for Paul's life.  This mystery was shown to Paul through the vision he saw with his own eyes, thus he had no choice but to believe.  One who is used by God must see what God's shown him.  When Moses saw the burning bush in the wild that would not be burnt out, the vision attracted him.  Elisha saw Elijah taken to the heaven by a chariot of fire with angels and heavenly hosts, the vision also became the turning point in his life.  In the same way, when Paul encountered the great light on his way to Damascus, he encountered the Lord in the light, and this vision gave him a 180 degree turnabout.   Mystery of gospel not only turned Paul's life around, but also taught him how to face human suffering from a different perspective.  He said that he became "prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles."  He not only suffered for this mystery, he was also able to face suffering with a positive attitude.  It's not something to be ashamed of, but rather to be proud of, because he was suffering with the Lord.  As long as understand mystery of gospel, suffering meant nothing to him.  Not only that, mystery of gospel also turned him into a person with sense of mission, for he knew that God has given him the task of preaching the gospel.  Therefore, he's no longer an ordinary person, but rather one with God's mission and commission.  No matter where you are and what you are doing, you need to know what mission has God entrusted you, else you life will never be fully satisfied.   After many years as a pastor, I discovered that no matter what a person's social status is and how successful he's seen by others, he will always ask: "What am I living for?"  Many people climb to ladder of success all their life, but end up asking: "Is this it?  How come this is it?"  If we don't understand the mission that we are entrusted by God when we are created, we'll always have a void deep down inside our heart.  Paul knows what God entrusted him, thus he's not afraid of the difficulties; no matter whether it's a spiritual struggle or tough situation, nothing could hinder his journey forward.  Do you have such momentum when you are faced with difficulties in life?  You need to turn back to God and ask God to reveal Himself to you.  When you see, you will know how the Lord will become the guidance and strength for your life!                                                                                    Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because you are our strength and help.  May God open our eyes to know what you have entrusted us in our life, and let us run after you.  Let us give our life to your hands so that you may use us.  Only when you are using us will we be able to see the true meaning and purpose for our life.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!