Ephesians 3:1 'For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...'
Many believe that in Ephesians 3:1, Paul began praying the second of his prayers for these Asian believers. However, his prayer was interrupted – not by an external distraction, but by a compelling truth that monopolized his thoughts. He calls it ‘the mystery of Christ’, and he only returns to pray in vs 14. “For this reason, I bow my knee…” Paul calls the mystery “the mystery of Christ,” and verses 2-13 unveil the mystery as a living entity —a new humanity, a community of hope irresistibly united with Christ. It is the church. This passage challenges us not to give up on being the church (the body, the bride of Christ), but like Paul to invest unreservedly in God’s eternal program for her and through her.
There is no room in Ephesians 3 for casual, cool, or critical attitudes. Haphazard involvement is not an option. Only wholehearted participation honours the extraordinary mystery of God, planned in eternity, achieved through Christ, and made known to us and “the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places through Christ and His apostles.” Vs 9, 10.
