Category: Ephesians

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:17-20 (day two) With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, v. 18

If you have the time, start your reading a few verses earlier today and re-read the complete passage regarding the armor of God. Armor is not something you throw on. It takes time. It must fit properly, or it will not do the job it was created to do, think of the shepherd boy David when he tried on King Saul’s armor. As you put on the armor you become aware of how it fits, and where you are exposed. This should be a deliberate process, so that when you are in battle, you are ‘on alert’ as Paul concludes. Every part of this preparation is designed to slow you down, and to consider how the Lord is calling you to participate in the work he has called you to. There is not a sense of hurry or rush in this passage. As you prepare to face your day, your job, your family, or this season may you be on alert for all that will come your way. May that alertness come from a dedication to love and serve the Lord through continuous communion with him.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:10-17 (day seven)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. vs 10

We live in Military City USA. We are all well familiar with the process of Basic Training, but just for posterity, lets break it down. Basic Training, sometimes referred to as boot camp, prepares recruits for all elements of service: physical, mental and emotional. It gives service members the basic tools necessary to perform the roles that will be assigned to them for the duration of their tour. Before you are given a gun or put in charge of crucial information, you are required to test your limits and strengthen yourself.

What is the training ground for Spiritual Warfare? The Church. We gather together to learn the tools necessary to perform the roles God has assigned to us. We have a tendency to treat the training like the war. We prepare ourselves for Sunday, when Sunday is what prepares us for Monday. The reason we gather is to be trained, equipped, and deployed. Today as we gather, will you test your limits? Will you learn how to wear the Armor of God? Will you strengthen yourself so that you might be able to stand against the attacks of the enemy all week long?

As I write this I am sitting in my daughter’s apartment waiting to depart for my first Texas A&M football game. There is a sense of excitement and anticipation here; the whole town is reading itself for a battle. This is not unlike Paul’s urgent commands in Ephesians 6-“Don’t take the enemy for granted; get dressed for battle every single day!”

The difference between A&M football game day, and life of the church in the world is certainty. Whereas the A&M fan is uncertain of the day’s outcome, we are more than certain that Jesus has already won today’s battle!

Live battle ready! Live with certainty!

Oh, and super sorry for the late-in-the day post. This dad was just super excited to get his daughter in College Station.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:10-17(day five)  Is this passage humbling to you?  It is for me. We live in a culture and society that is unhealthily self sufficient and self relying. Think about how many times when people ask us if we need help, assistance, or aid we answer with the following responses- “I got this” or “I’m good”. Often times, they’re asking because they see us struggling or see the difficulty we are actually facing (sometimes we don’t even know it). We try to either make it on our own, or get by with as little help as possible.

I was struck this week by how comprehensive and well rounded the armor of God is. It is not minimal at all.  It is thorough, from top to bottom. Why?  Because we (I) really are in need of that much and those kinds of help.   We actually are that incapable. We are in fact (on our own) weak, overmatched, and unable to even just stand firm. God gives us this complete and amazing “armor” because we really do need it.  In essence, our disobedience, pride, and unfaithfulness is telling God,  “I got this” or “I’m good”.  How foolish does that seem?  May God find us willing to put on His whole armor and find the strength and assurance we so desperately need.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:10-17 (day four)

When we read verse 12, it’s easy to imagine the “authorities of the unseen world” and “evil spirits in heavenly places” like something out of a paranormal horror movie. To be sure, there are horribly dark and evil things that occur in this world. However, I think a lot of the spiritual warfare we experience is more subtle, and more insidious than that.

When we believe lies that parade around as truth, when we allow apathy to creep in, when we are blinded by pride, when we allow a sinful habit to take hold – these are also the realities of spiritual warfare. But before we are overcome by fear at how present these things seem, Paul reminds us – we’ve been given everything we need for life and godliness, we’ve been given the armor of God.

It is a powerful thing to pray the armor of God over yourself, your spouse, your friends, and your children. It is impenetrable, fashioned by the God of the universe, and stronger than anything we may face.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:10-17 (day three)

“…and having done everything, to stand firm.”

It’s important that you still stand after everything that has come against you. Why? Because when something attempts to take your voice, your presence, your worth, that is an offensive attempt to undo what God made when he made you. If there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need not repent, then assuredly there is more rejoicing in heaven over one person whose light has not been extinguished than over ninety-nine who were never under threat. When the Spirit equips a person with the armor of God, this isn’t a mere exercise in getting the answers right in a Bible study. This is a provision for strength in the face of everyone who has ever shut you out, forgotten you, or neglected to treasure you.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 6:10-17 (day two) 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. v. 10

Paul’s final exhortation to the Ephesians is to get ready for the coming days. Whether from without or within, there will be conflict and struggle. He also give a not so subtle reminder that to be strong is to allow the Lord to go before you. It is not your strength, it is his. Time spent in prayer, scripture, all doctrine point to the author and perfecter of our faith. These images of armor can give a false impression that we are fighting. The Lord fights for us. We are called to be his ambassadors and we are the conduits for the Spirit on earth, but every piece of armor that we put on is evidence of his protection for those he loves. Be strong and courageous. Arm yourself well with the strength of the Lord.

Re:Verse passage – Ephesians 5:15-21 (day seven)

making the most of your time. Vs 16

I love reading scripture in different translations. Here are some of my favorites of the week:

Making the best use of the time (ESV)

Make the most of every opportunity (NLT)

Redeeming the time (NKJV)

What becomes abundantly clear through these differing translations is that we, as children of the light, have been called by God to make the most of the opportunities we have been given. This is not a call to programming. We have a tendency to think that “making the most of our time” means that we need to do more, so we proceed to cram our schedule with things that we perceive will help us make the most of time. Yet, this passage takes a different route. He is calling us to take the moments that arise in a given day, those that are dark, bleak or even uneventful, and redeem them. Take the moments where the enemy is trying to push forward the darkness and shine the Light back into it. “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.” How can you redeem the moments and opportunities that will come up today?