Back To Home Page To Archives - Spring of Life - H. Roger Bothwell Insiders and Outsiders Don't you love being an insider? It is so emotional satisfying to be part of a group that has special privileges because of membership. Belonging is an important human need. We are so inclined to this that I sometimes hear Christians claiming they are part of the 144,000 mentioned in the Book of Revelation. They tell me they will have special privileges throughout eternity because they are part of this group. I want to tell them that very attitude will not only keep them out of the 144,000, whoever they are, but will most likely also keep them out of heaven. In Ephesians 3 Paul tells us he knows a mystery. Please read it carefully. It will either make you very happy or completely frustrate you because Paul maintains the mystery is we are all on level ground. Outsiders, those who don't belong to our group, will have access to the very same promises and rewards as we insiders. There is something in us that wants to yell, "unfair." After all we put in years of service. That aught to count for something. Here is the mystery again. See Jesus' parable about the man who paid all the workers the same amount. Now before we get too sweaty about this let's rejoice in the rest of Ephesians 3. Paul goes on to tell us everyone will have access to the inexhaustible and unsearchable riches of Christ. Jesus' generosity to us will be so overwhelming we will be filled with wonder and we won't have time to resent the "outsiders" who have mysteriously become "insiders." Isn't Jesus grand? You have to love this. I'm Roger Bothwell and my address is roger.bothwell@verizon.net or 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453. Thank you for your support of our faith ministry. Past devotionals can be accessed at Archives