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There are things about our faith that are so well known to us that we forget how rare and precious they are. Reading the Bible is essential to reminding us what has been given to us.

We above all other people are privileged. The people of Jesus Christ, the church, has been given and entrusted with the mysteries of the ages. In fact, God’s plan has been shown to the church.

I am not talking about every detail of history, but the more important knowledge of the great plan of God for the world. We know it because God has revealed it to us.

The word “mystery” appears more times in the book of Ephesians than anywhere else in the Bible (Daniel is second). When the Bible speaks of mystery, it is not speaking of knowledge that is difficult to understand. Rather, mystery in the Bible implies something that is hidden. Something secret. In order to grasp the mystery, it must be made clear to us.

God in Christ through the Holy Spirit has revealed the mystery, has revealed his plan.

The apostle Paul says the plan is for salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul says this is what God has planned and what God will accomplish. The plan includes adopting the Gentiles into the covenant people. The mystery includes the deep love in marriage.

So you need to know how privileged you are to know the secret plan of the universe made known to you in God’s Son Jesus. As I write I think of a treasure map. You come across a map that shows the way to the buried treasure. No one else has this map, just you. You know where to go to find the gold doubloons. Except what we find hidden in the plan of God is greater than any of it. We find the gospel of God’s love in Jesus Christ and that he has called us into his church for eternity.

The rare and precious truths of God belong to you.

Please join me in prayer. “Dear Lord, thanks for unveiling to us the mystery of the ages, your plan for deliverance in Jesus Christ. To us you have entrusted it. Help us not to keep it a secret but to tell all the world until the full number of people who bow the knee to Jesus has come forward. We ask in his name. Amen.”

Sing this:
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Oh, when the saints go marching in
Dear Lord, I want to be in that number
When the saints go marching in

Ephesians 1
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Ephesians 3
3 This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, 3 and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5 In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power. 8 Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10 so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 5
32 This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. 33 Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

Ephesians 6
19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.