QT 27/08/2026 Thu Ephesians 3 The Mystery, the Power, and the Walk 奥秘、大能与生命之道
QT 27/08/2026 Wed Ephesians 3 The Mystery, the Power, and the Walk
READ https://www.esv.org/Ephesians+3
What if I told you that one chapter in Ephesians could completely change how you see your identity, your suffering, your prayers, and even the way you live? In the next few minutes, let's discover four powerful truths from Ephesians 3.
We often ask God for what we think we need. But what if God wants to do far more than you could ever ask or even imagine? That's the breathtaking promise of Ephesians 3.
(1) Remember Our Status as Fellow Heirs
Paul reveals the mystery of the gospel: through Christ, believing Jews and Gentiles are now "fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (Eph. 3:6). We should never forget, or look down on, the privileged status that every believer has received. Our standing before God is not determined by our background, ethnicity, achievements, or maturity, but by His grace. Every Christian shares equally in the riches of Christ and His promises.
(2) Do Not Lose Heart in Suffering
Paul urges the Ephesian believers, "So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory" (Eph. 3:13). His imprisonment was not a sign that God had abandoned him; rather, it was part of God's plan to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.
Paul understood that his suffering served God's greater purpose and ultimately benefited the churches. Likewise, God can use suffering for His glory and for the good of His people, even when we cannot immediately see the outcome.
(3) Pray with Confidence in God's Unlimited Power
We often come to God with a list of requests, asking Him to resolve the problems before us. There is nothing wrong with bringing our needs to Him, yet Paul's closing doxology reminds us that God's power far exceeds our expectations: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20).
God is not limited by our imagination, our understanding, or even our prayers. We can pray boldly, trusting that His wisdom, power, and purposes are infinitely greater than anything we could ever ask or conceive.
(4) Right Theology Leads to Right Living
Paul intentionally structures Ephesians with doctrine before duty. Chapters 1–3 establish the theological foundation of who God is, what Christ has accomplished, and who believers are in Him. Only then, in chapters 4–6, does Paul turn to practical instructions for Christian living.
This order is vital. It is both foolish and dangerous to focus merely on doing the “right things” without continually returning to why we do them. Flutterings of an unstable hearts barely achieves a solid God-pleasing lifestyle. Sound theology produces faithful Christian living.
When we reverse the order, we risk shaping our beliefs to justify our behaviour instead of allowing God's Word to shape both our beliefs and our actions. Correct theology leads to correct living—not the other way around.
May we be believers who delight in knowing God rightly, so that our lives increasingly reflect the truth of the gospel and bring glory to Christ.
Prayer
Heavenly Father. Thank You for making us fellow heirs with Christ through Your grace. Help us never to lose heart in times of trial, but to trust that You are working for Your glory and our good. Strengthen our faith to pray boldly, knowing that You are able to do far more than all we ask or imagine. Fill our hearts with the knowledge of Your love, so that Your truth may shape the way we live each day. May our lives bring glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus, now and forever. In Jesus' name, Amen.
QT 27/08/2026 星期四 以弗所书 3 奥秘、大能与生命之道
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eph/3/
如果我告诉你，《以弗所书》中的一章经文能够彻底改变你对自身身份、苦难、祷告，甚至生活方式的看法，你会作何感想？接下来的几分钟里，让我们从《以弗所书》第三章中发掘四项充满力量的真理。
我们常常向神求取我们自以为需要的东西。但如果神所要成就的，远超过你所求所想，甚至超乎你的想象呢？这就是《以弗所书》第三章所揭示的令人惊叹的应许。
(1) 铭记我们作为共同继承人的身份
保罗揭示了福音的奥秘：借着基督，信主的犹太人和外邦人如今都是“这奥秘就是外族人在基督耶稣里，借着福音可以同作后嗣，同为一体，同蒙应许。”（弗3:6）。我们绝不应忘记，也不应轻视每位信徒所领受的这份尊荣地位。我们在神面前的地位并非由我们的背景、种族、成就或属灵成熟度决定，而是由祂的恩典决定。每位基督徒都平等地分享基督的丰富及其应许。
(2) 在患难中不要灰心
保罗劝勉以弗所的信徒：“因此，我恳求你们，不要因着我为你们所受的苦难而沮丧，这原是你们的光荣。”（弗3:13）。他的被囚并非表明神已经离弃了他；相反，这是神将福音传给外邦人计划的一部分。
保罗明白，他的苦难是为了成就上帝更宏大的旨意，最终将使各教会受益。同样，即使我们无法立即看到结果，上帝也能利用苦难来彰显祂的荣耀，并使祂的子民得益。
(3) 凭着对上帝无限大能的信心祷告
我们常常带着一长串请求来到上帝面前，求祂解决我们眼前的问题。将我们的需要带到祂面前并无不妥，但保罗结尾的颂赞提醒我们，上帝的大能远超我们的预期：“就是归给那能照着运行在我们里面的大能，充充足足地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。”（弗3:20）。
神不受我们想象、理解，甚至祷告的限制。我们可以大胆地祷告，深信祂的智慧、大能和旨意，远比我们所能求的、所能想的更伟大无穷。
(4) 正确的神学引领正确的生活
保罗在《以弗所书》的结构上刻意将教义置于责任之前。第1至3章奠定了神学根基，阐明了神的本质、基督所成就的事工，以及信徒在基督里的身份。只有在此之后，保罗才在第4–6章中转向关于基督徒生活的实际教导。
这种顺序至关重要。若只专注于做“正确的事”，却没不断反思我们为何这样做，这既愚昧又危险。心志不稳的浮躁之举，几乎无法成就一种稳固且蒙神喜悦的生活方式。健全的神学才能造就忠心的基督徒生活。
如果我们颠倒了这个顺序，就会冒着这样的风险：为了为自己的行为辩护而塑造自己的信念，而不是让上帝的话语来塑造我们的信念和行为。正确的神学才会带来正确的生活——而不是相反。
愿我们成为那些以正确认识上帝为乐的信徒，使我们的生活能越来越充分地反映福音的真理，并荣耀基督。
祷告
天父。感谢祢借着祢的恩典，使我们与基督同为后嗣。求祢帮助我们在患难中永不灰心，而是信靠祢正在为祢的荣耀和我们的益处而行事。求祢坚固我们的信心，使我们能大胆祷告，深知祢所能做的，远超过我们所求所想的。求祢用对祢爱的认识充满我们的心，使祢的真理能塑造我们每日的生活。愿我们的生命在教会中、在基督耶稣里，如今并直到永远，都归荣耀于祢。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
