The boundless riches of Christ have been made known to you. Wonderful. But they have come with a cost. For we have to reform ourselves, true: this is ongoing. Paul, who wrote this, said that at times he did what he knew he ought not do, and John said that anyone who thinks he is without sin is lying. For he has not examined himself.
The second cost is that this world will oppose you, even to an horrific and ridiculous extent. Those who reject God, and choose evil, become cruel, if not mad.
1This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles — 2for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given me for you, 3and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, 4a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5In former generations this mystery was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7Of 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. 8Although 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, 9and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; 10so 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. 11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. 13I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.
The gospel we have came to us at great cost. Christ died for our sins, and then rose again. The number of people jailed, killed, beaten and expelled from their nation for the gospel and preaching it are innumerable, and given the current idiotic fashion for “safe spaces” there will be more.
We can see the glory of the LORD. So let us do today our dity.