Ephesians

Ephesians 6:7-8 Work like you're working for God, knowing that He will reward you.

Ephesians 6:5-6 I struggle with this verse because I don't like the term slave.  Other versions say servant.  I'm thinking in my culture it could be employee.  Yet no matter what the term is we're called to obey just like we're working for God.  We should do our work with our whole heart. Lord Jesus, please help us to do an honest days work, listening and obeying our master so You will be proud of us. Thanks

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, don't frustrate your children but bring them up in the instruction of the Lord. Lord Jesus: Please raise up Godly Dads who love and serve You and also encourage their children to follow You.

Ephesians 6:1-3 I find this verse harder to digest yet it is one of the ten commandments.  I find it hard because parents aren't perfect so what do the children do when the parents make a mistake; especially if they make mistakes all of the time.  Yet obeying parents typically does stop children from playing in traffic and taking drugs; and both of these activities are a good way to prevent death.  So mediate on these verses and see what God has to say to you.   

Ephesians 5:33 Love and respect are required for a healthy husband and wife relationship.  It's interesting that the men are reminded to love and the women are reminded to respect.  I wonder if these are the areas that are weaker in a relationship.

Ephesians 5:28-32 Can Christ's love be compared to the love between a husband and a wife?  Paul tries to equate the two in this passage. If Christ is the wife as the husband we are to love Christ as we love our bodies.  This love should show a love for ourselves as well.  Christ will feed and care for us just as we feed and care for ourselves.  We are to leave what bore us and enter into this new relationship with Christ just as a husband and wife leave their parents and enter into a relationship with each other.

Ephesians 5:25-27 They say love covers over a multitude of sin but today's passage is suggesting that love cleans us up for God.  It implies that the word of God is the water that does the cleaning.  Lord Jesus I pray for husband and wife teams all over Your Kingdom, that they may get in the habit of having devotions together where they can share openly and honestly with each other.

Ephesians 5:21-25 This is a controversial passage but it starts with us all submitting; men and husbands too; and ends with reminding husbands to love their wives.  I wonder if it was written this way because it's hard for wives to submit and for husbands to love and both sides needed a reminder.

Ephesians 5:18-20 Give thanks through music...and other ways too. A song for us

Ephesians 5:18-19 God is good.  Instead of getting drunk and just enjoying sensual pleasures try walking with the Spirit, and singing to each other and the Lord; words from the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:17 The opposite of knowing God's will is foolishness.  Know God's will.  He tells us to take care of widows and orphans, He tells us to love our neighbour as our self. He tells us not to love money. He tells us to live Godly lives and expose darkness with light.  He tells us to be sexually moral. He tells us to be careful. He tells us to make the most of every opportunity. He tells us...we just need to read the bible to find out what He wants. Lord Jesus, please help us to discern Your will for our lives today and give us the courage to fulfill it.

Ephesians 5:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,   making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." It's a good reminder to live with intention in what we do.

Ephesians 5:14 God can change a life. A changed life or two

Ephesians 5:11-13 As lights we expose the deeds done in darkness.  Let's expose the what is done in darkness so it too becomes light in this dark world.  Lord Jesus, please give us the courage to be lights in dark places.

Ephesians 5:7-10 Live a life that pleases God so you can be identified by your fruit.

Ephesians 5:5-6 God doesn't like immoral, impure or greedy people. His word says they don't have a place in His Kingdom and His wrath will come on the disobedient. Lord Jesus: Please help us to be pure in Your eyes.  Give us an ear to hear Your word and the courage to obey it.

Ephesians 5:4 A song for today May our words be acceptable to God.  Let us fill them with gratitude.

Ephesians 5:3 To be holy we need to get rid of any hint of sexual immorality, greed or any other kind of impurity. Lord Jesus, please help us to be filled with Your Holy Spirit so we can live a Holy life.

Ephesians 5:1-2 Jesus love for us is a demonstration of how we are to love.  He did what God wanted, not what others wanted, he sacrificed everything, including His life knowing that God had His back.  Lord Jesus, please help us to love but not be taken advantage of.  We can only do this if we're listening to Your Holy Spirit.  Please give us ears to hear and the courage to obey.  Thanks in advance for answering this prayer.

Ephesians 4:30-32 The Spirit doesn't like  bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of desire to do evil. What the Spirit wants is kindness, compassion and forgiveness. Lord Jesus, help us not grieve the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:29 Watch what you’d say. Does it build others up or not? Our words should be encouraging words.

Ephesians 4:28   I find it interesting that this verse was written to Christians...stop stealing and work!  Lord Jesus, please help us to be honest people. Thanks

Ephesians 4:26-27 How can you be angry and not sin? By watching for the truth and watching out for those around us and by being silent. Dear Lord we bring to You what angers us. Please guide and direct us with what bothers us so the enemy can’t get a foothold. In Jesus name. Amen

Ephesians 4:25   Dear Lord Jesus: Please help us to speak the truth in love. Amen