Stewards of the Mystery of God

Some GOOD NEWS for today! God gave us each a body full of soul life to steward and care for. We are also stewards of God’s mystery, the one body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:1,2:
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and STEWARDS of the mysteries of God.
Moreover it is required in STEWARDS, that a man be found faithful.

We are to take care of our physical bodies. God designed a sense of self-preservation into our very beings.

Ephesians 5:29:
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.

Jesus Christ will guide and direct the church when we listen. He wants the best for his “body.”

We also are to steward our souls, our hearts and minds with God’s Word. That helps us to stay in fellowship with our heavenly Father and do His will.

Psalms 119:11:
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Romans 12:2:
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What is the “mystery” that Paul says we are stewards of?

Ephesians 3:3-6:
How that by revelation he made known unto me THE MYSTERY; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
That the Gentiles should be FELLOWHEIRS, and of THE SAME BODY and PARTAKERS OF HIS PROMISE in Christ by the gospel.

When we get born again [Romans 10:9,10], we are fellowheirs with Christ and each other, of the same body of Christ, and we share fully in all the promises of Christ made know in the good news of the gospel.

Now, how do we steward this spiritual “mystery” as members in particular in the body of Christ? One way is to serve others in love. A “bishop” is someone who “oversees” the lives of others and cares for them. The Greek word for “bishop” is episkopos and literally means to “look upon” others in order to help and care for them. This can be done in the church, just as a parent can take care of his children.

Titus 1:7:
For a bishop must be blameless, as the STEWARD of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre.

The Greek word for steward, oikonomos, can also mean someone who oversees the well being of others. A steward has great responsibility to use his resources for the master’s profit and benefit.

1 Peter 4:10,11:
As every man hath received the gift, even so MINISTER the same one to another, as good STEWARDS of the manifold grace of God.
If any man speak, let him SPEAK as the oracles of God; if any man MINISTER, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things MAY BE GLORIFIED through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

As stewards of the mystery of the one body of Christ, we minister to each other daily, by tapping into the Father’s grace and serving one another in love [Galatians 5:13]. Peter says we are to:

1. speak as God’s spokespeople
2. minister according to all the abilities God gives us
3. glorify God in all we do through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a wonderful day, stewarding all the grace and love we have together in Christ Jesus!

Amen. I love you.