I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Ephesians 3:7 – 9

Paul pauses now.  What he just wrote is truly new, that Jews and Gentiles who believe are now a new body on the earth.  That was the culmination of God’s revelation, and his gift for all mankind.  Nothing like this ever happened before – unity that has nothing to do with history, culture or biology!  This happens, not by destroying culture but by calling believers who are in these cultures to love one another with a love that is greater than local loyalty.

Paul insists that he did not concoct this vision, but by the grace of God he caught the vision of God’s work of grace and is now preaching about the miracle of God.  He is not a master of the revelation but its humble servant.  It is a revelation to Paul that stretches everything in him to reach out and grasp the reality that he is experiencing, participating in this new fellowship of love, the love of Jesus.  I am convinced that Paul is sincere in his humility, so to speak.  I recall that Paul committed himself as a Jew to become a great Pharisee.  Now what?  I hear him say that in the light of the revelation, I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people.  He is called to preach to Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.  He is called to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God.

Paul is excited!  As we should be.  I am excited about many things, is my greatest excitement the knowledge that God is forming his kingdom of faith and that we are in it?  Heaven sees it and fills the place with praise.  It is a new day.