Overcoming the world

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:17-5:20 (day one)
“That in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and. . .that you put on a new self”—v 22-23.

It is an old story.  Sad.  Harry Truman use to say, “The only new thing in the world is the history you don’t know.”  We may THINK that our sins are new/ unique to the 21st Century.  Not so.  When Jesus said ,“I have overcome the world”, He did not mean in a material or military sense.  The savior conquered the world by purchasing a people for Himself with His own blood.  These people are His “proof” that a new way of life is possible and desirable. By the Spirit, through faith, we become living proof of the Savior’s power and purpose.  Sin is not new.  It is OLD, and needs to be laid aside for NEW life in Christ.

Humility first

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day seven)
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love”–v 2.

When Paul talks about a life that is worthy of God’s calling, humility is the first virtue on his list.  Is it first on ours?  Do we see the insult that our pride is to God, the disruption it causes in our fellowship?  Paul calls for humility–the willingness to take a low position, a thankless task.  He speaks of gentleness–a broken spirit that does God’s will without protest or pouting.  He names patience — “long suffering”, not quitting when a task or relationship gets difficult.  He calls for us to bear with others–to give grace when people are flawed and selfish.  He insists on love–“if I have not love, I am nothing” he will say in 1 Corinthians 13.  Strange isn’t it?  Most of us, apart from Paul’s help, would have a different priority.  But, for people of the Spirit, humility is first.

Worthy to receive, worthy to give

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day six)  God is worthy. 
“Worthy to receive glory and honor and power”—Revelation 4:11.

The nature of God makes giving to Him a moral and reasonable activity.  He deserves what we give Him.  Time.  Attention.  Offerings.  Praise.   He is worthy to receive it!  If He is worthy to receive, however, we must be (become) worthy to give.  In Ephesians 4, Paul urges such preparation of heart.  “I urge you, therefore, to live a life worthy of the calling you have received”—v 1.  All of grace, but without the despair that none of us can now be what He desires or deserves, the Bible calls us to become servants of the Most High, reflecting in our own choices and character the wisdom and worth of the One who called us to Himself.  God is worthy of having worthy people bringing worthy gifts.  “Who can ascend into the hill of the Lord?. . .He that has clean hands and a pure heart.”—Psalm 24:3

Keep these Together

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day five) There must always be a close relationship between Theology and Biography in the Christian Faith.  What we do must be a reflection of what we believe.  What we believe must be reflected in what we do.  Paul shifts from Theology in chapters 1-3 (deep meaningful images, metaphors, and doctrinal statements) to Biography in chapter 4.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Seems the type of believers Paul has in mind are those who study, understand, and process the deep rich and mysterious truths of the Scripture, yet “walk” and act in a manner that makes them easily approachable and highly relational.

Keeping a “sound” Theology and a “worthy” Biography together will take discipline, determination, and God’s grace.

Maturity

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day four)  Maturity…it is a principle that is demonstrated in all of God’s creation.  A seed is planted, it grows to a tree, it bears fruit, and the fruit ripens.  A child is conceived, he grows to birth, he is born and lives apart from his mother, and he soon grows to be a child, a youth, an adult.  Spiritual maturity is what we must strive for as a believer.  If the process of growth is interrupted at any point, there is no maturity, there is death.  Paul says, “…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.”  Paul goes on to say that each of us is vital to the growth of the body…the church.  Verse 16 says, “from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body…”  If our personal process of growing in Christ is hindered, it damages the growth of the church.

Grow

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day three)
“Then we will no longer be infants.”  Our destiny is to live with one another as fully capable human beings in a good universe sustained by the living God.  If we refuse to live with one another now, though, we will not progress beyond infancy of character.  The Bible talks of a future of reigning with God, but without maturity, that will never happen.  And without one another, maturity will not take hold.  All of the characteristics of a godly life are characteristics that take shape only in community: We can’t love in isolation; we can’t exercise patience without someone to wait on; we can’t live humbly alone; we can’t bear another’s burden when no one is around.  It is no wonder that the second-greatest command after the love of God is the love of neighbor as oneself.  Our future depends on it.

Perparer or Server?

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day two)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith..vs. 11-13a

We all have a role to play in the kingdom. It’s not a new concept, but it is always reaffirming to see it written in scripture. In this letter to the Ephesians, Paul has drawn a line in the sand for believers. We are either those who prepare or those who serve. Some of us have the role to preach and teach. Then there are those who are called to the community to live among the world and serve them. They serve by living their lives with spirit-filled integrity. They conduct their business with the kind of honesty that Christ demands. They raise families to love the Lord and to honor Jesus in all they do. The servers live in such a way that others demand to know how and why.

Serve well today.

Jesus Calling

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 4:1-16 (day one)
It is a popular devotional book.  Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, is a collection of 1st person words from Christ to the believer. (At least the author’s idea.)  It rests on a clear biblical conviction that the Lord calls/commands us and that hearing and obeying His voice is the key to life! “Today, if you hear my voice, do not harden your hearts”–Hebrews 4:7.  “Now faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ”–Romans 10:17.  After 3 chapters of intense and glorious doctrinal instruction,  Paul turns to application.  “What must I DO, Lord?” he urges us to ask, and his first application focus is for us to recognize the voice of Christ and respond to it with obedient faith.  Verse 1 reads (literally),  “I CALL you to walk in a manner worthy of the CALLING with which you have been CALLED.”  Christian friend, do you hear His voice?  His direction? As you do, will you obey?

Paul, praying

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 3 (day seven)
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father”–v 14.  He was never better than when he prayed.  Never stood taller than when he knelt.  In v 1 of our Re: Verse reading, Paul described himself as a PRISONER.  In v 8, he says he is a PREACHER.  In v 14, he reveals his highest, best power.  He is a PRAY ER.  Boiled down to its essence, Paul’s prayer is for God and a few friends.  V 16 is for the strength of the Spirit.  V 17 is for the constant companionship of Christ. V 18 is for an understanding of God’s love that comes through a relationship with “all the Saints”. V 19 is for the fullness of God.  Strange isn’t it?  Paul asks for none of the things that we often do.  He requests a full measure of  God and full life of friendships.  “Besides You, I desire nothing on earth.”–Psalm 73:25.  Lord, teach us to pray like our brother did!

Undiscouraged

Re: Verse reading–Ephesians 3 (day six)
“Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations.”–v 13.  Surprising commandment.  Typical Paul.  “Do not lose heart!”  Literally it reads, “do not let the bad get inside you.”  Paul claims that every believer has the responsibility to guard his heart from depression, discouragement, hopelessness or negativity.  When it happens, if it happens,  it is always because necessary precautions were untaken, necessary disciplines unapplied.  Jesus said something similar.  “Let not your heart be troubled.”–John 14:1.  Don’t LET it happen! David learned the same truth.  “He strengthened himself in the Lord.”–1 Samuel 30:6.  Courage is a gift from God.  It is also something we find for ourselves.  Did he go pray?  Sing hymns?  The text is not clear.  It is clear, however, that David knew that the management of his own heart and outlook was high priority.  Difficulty is inevitable. Discouragement, however, is a choice.  “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.”–Psalm 56:3.