Ephesians

  Ephesians 6:23-24 May peace be with each of you as you love and provide grace to those in the family of God.

Ephesians 6:21-22   Tychicus has a purpose as a dear brother and faithful friend.  His job is to share how Paul is doing and encourage the church of Ephesus.  I find it interesting that Paul trusts Tychicus to share about his life.  With all of our privacy laws it's tricky to share these days but here Paul has appointed someone to share and encourage.  Tychicus has a purpose in God's Kingdom.  May each one of us find our purpose in God's Kingdom and fulfill our purpose well.

  Ephesians 6:19-20 Paul is asking for prayer for all Christians but then he get's specific.  Pray for me.  He's been mistreated for the sake of the gospel so it would be easy to quit but instead he asks for prayer. " 19  Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,   20  for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." This is a good prayer.  I'd like it prayed for me and for folks who are Christians in non-Christian countries who are enduring persecution.  It's been good news for the past 2020 years; let's continue to pass it on.

  Ephesians 6:18 Pray and pray a lot. There is a battle going on and the Kingdom needs prayer warriors. Especially pray for the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:16-17   Add to the amour a shield of faith.  Remember God is on your side and He will fight for you.  Also remember to protect your mind with the helmet of knowing that Christ died and rose again for you.  Then don't forget to fight back with the sword, which is God's word.  When satan attacked Jesus Jesus responded with God's word, all from the same area of scripture, so I think that was what Jesus was reading for His devotions that day.  Pretty cool eh!  So stay in God's word.

Ephesians 6:14-15 Stand firm with the belt of truth (which happens to hold the rest of the armour on), do what's right with the breastplate of righteousness, and be willing to use your feet and walk away if necessary, for the sake of peace. How the enemy uses lies and gossip; it's important to get to the knowledge of truth so we can stand firm.  It then important to do the right thing so the accuser has nothing to accuse us of.  And if we walk away we must remember the power of prayer and keep praying for the right thing to be accomplished.

Ephesians 6:12-13 This is a powerful section of scripture.  In it we're remind that our struggle is not against flesh and blood.  The evil one will use our relationships so be careful.  Watch out for the lies of the enemy and put on the full armour of God so you can stand firm under the enemy's attacks.  Lord Jesus, please help us to be wise. Thanks for your armour of protection.  Thanks for reminding us to wear it.

Ephesians 6:11 We've covered relationships within the family and between a boss and his/her workers and now we get to the important part; we're in a battle against evil,  This battle influences our relationships so watch out.  Put on your armour.  Stand prepared!

Ephesians 6:9-10 As the boss are we not called to treat those under us as we want to be treated?  Remember we all report in to God.  Lord Jesus, please guide and direct all working relationships as it says You will.  Thanks

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.