Quote from Forum Archives on September 7, 2002, 2:50 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

I've been utilizing and following the project below on and off,
as I've been reading from different translations and paraphrases
from the Bible. One project that I really enjoy reading is from
the Year of the Bible. They use the Contemporary English Version
of the Bible. Being familiar with other translations, it's my
guess that this version is not word for word consistent with the
original translations. Even so, to me, it brings the truth of
the Word of God alive, so I enjoy reading it.

I don't feel threatened by any idea of adding or removing from
scripture. After all, I have all kinds of versions of the Bible
available to me at my fingertips. Instead, the vibrancy of God's
Word comes through strongly and powerfully. I don't see how any
Spirit filled believer can be led astray, as long as each
individual tests the truth and accuracy of what they read.

Today, in a special weekend edition of Word for Today, I offer
you the Contemporary English version of Ephesians 3. There are a
half dozen passages of the Bible that are on my favorites list,
though I love all of scripture. This chapter is among those
favorites for me, particularly verses 14-21, which I've long
dubbed "The Power Prayer". I like the heading on that section
equally well: "Christ's Love For Us".

I intimately know the love of Christ, and I have just a tiny
sense of how high, long, wide, and deep that love really is - I
certainly don't know its bounds! So I offer this scripture to
you out of the love and gratitude that God's Spirit has placed in
me. I encourage you to read this passage below, then read it
again, perhaps in the Bible translation you're most familiar and
comfortable with. You may also wish you compare different
translations of this passage, which you can find online at
bible.crosswalk.com/ or bible.gospelcom.net/.

All of this is nothing more than a reminder that God loves each
and every one of us, and He longs to have a deeply intimate and
personal relationship with each one of us. He brought His Word
to the Jews and asked them to be His ambassadors. He brought His
own Son into the World (as a Jew), only to send Him out as a
sacrificial love offering, first to show us how to live, then how
to die to self. Christ, a man, in very nature God Himself, gave
Himself for us. I embrace Christ, God in the flesh, and love Him
with all my heart. How will you respond to Christ today?

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

____________________________________________________________

Year of the Bible
www.gospelcom.net/yob/dated/see_today.shtml

September 7, Ephesians 3:1-21

Paul's Mission to the Gentiles

1 Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so that I could help you
Gentiles. 2 You have surely heard about God's kindness in
choosing me to help you. 3 In fact, this letter tells you a
little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. 4 As you
read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do
understand the mystery about Christ. 5 No one knew about this
mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and
prophets. 6 And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus,
the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises
that God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be
part of the same body.

7 God treated me with kindness. His power worked in me, and it
became my job to spread the good news. 8 I am the least
important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to
tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings
that cannot be measured. 9 God, who created everything, wanted
me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had
always been hidden in his mind. 10 Then God would use the
church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual
world that he has many different kinds of wisdom. 11 God did
this according to his eternal plan. And he was able to do what
he had planned because of all that Christ Jesus our Lord had
done. 12 Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so that we
can come to God by faith. 13 That's why you should not be
discouraged when I suffer for you. After all, it will bring
honor to you.

Christ's Love for Us

14 I kneel in prayer to the Father. 15 All beings in heaven and
on earth receive their life from him. 16 God is wonderful and
glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong
followers 17 and that Christ will live in your hearts because
of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18
I pray that you and all of God's people will understand what
is called wide or long or high or deep. 19 I want you to know
all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be
measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.

20-21 I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring
praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than
we dare ask or imagine. Amen.

Scripture made available by the American Bible Society for the
Year of the Bible Project. These passages are from the
Contemporary English Version of the Bible. For more information
call: 1.888.324.2535 or contact us through this web site.

-
Year of the Bible
Hosted by Gospel Communications Network
Report problems to webmaster@yob.org

Gospelcom.net alliance member

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes
finance.yahoo.com