Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 232
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IMMERSE
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MESSIAH
3:8–4:8
Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave
me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the
beginning.
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom
in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly
places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus
our Lord.
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and
confidently into God’s presence. So please don’t lose heart because of my
trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious,
unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through
his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in
him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And
may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how
wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience
the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you
will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes
from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work
within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory
to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever
and ever! Amen.
Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy
of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and
gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults
because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the
Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and
one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.
However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,
