Ephesians___4

Scripture:  Ephesians 4:24-25   and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.  Observation-What does it say?:  Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus did not address any particular matter of sin.  Instead, it was written to deepen their understanding of God’s eternal purpose, grace, and the purpose of the church (universal body of Christ).  Through his repeated use of the phrase “heavenly places,” he is developing our understanding that our existence is not just here on earth. “Nevertheless, that life is lived out on earth, where the practical daily life of the believer continues to work out the purposes of God”(Baker, K., et al, 1999).  In chapter four, Paul specifically addresses our unity in Christ and he offers some advice on how to continue to maintain our unity.   Understanding-What does it mean?:  In 1999, the book Jesus Freaks was first published, which was a joint project with the band DC Talk and a ministry called The Voice of Martyrs.  I was in high school at the time and DC Talk was pretty popular, so it was easy to convince me to read the book, even though I am not much of a reader.  The book outlines the lives of several prominent martyrs of the Christian faith. I remember thinking how horrible it was that these people endured such hardships and atrocities, just for maintaining their faith in Jesus Christ.  I also remember thinking, “I am so glad I live in America, and that will never happen to me.” I never thought, in my lifetime, I would live to see a day where the world I live in is so ready to attack the Christian faith.  Our unity has never seemed so important, and telling the truth about our situation must be paramount in this time. Words of encouragement have never been so vital.  But we must not forget that our battle is not against the flesh (Ephesians 6:17), we are to expect a fiery ordeal (1 Peter 4:12-13), and we are not to fear those who can only kill us (Matthew 10:28). Life Application:  Jesus, I want to learn to find joy in sharing your sufferings.  Help me to be encouraging to others, as this time is uncertain, but you are certainly going to care for us.  Your love, oh Lord, is better than all the things we hold dear on earth and it is everlasting.   
-Tyler Galloway

Ephesians _3

Scripture 

Ephesian 3 : 16 - 19 

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Observation 

Paul is writing to the Ephesians from prison encouraging them to know the love of God. 

Understanding 

This time we are living in is definitely starting to get to me. Being isolated can take a toll on anyone, even on the strongest of people. I cant help to think what Paul must have felt like to be isolated, in some cases for years at a time. And still he wrote from prison encouraging others. In humility, he knew his true condition, “ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people…”( Eph. 3:8). 

I wondered what was able to keep him going. What brought joy to his heart that he was able to write with such passion from prison? You can hear it in his voice as you read the letter. I can imagine him writing with vigor and excitement. 

I imagine it's like when two people have fallen in love with each other and you still live separately while you wait to marry. You spoke  on the phone for hours with such passion. You wrote letters filled with joy and excitement. You are unable to see them or live with them but what keeps you filled with joy, what keeps you going … knowing their love for you and your love for them. 

I think it's knowing God's love that will keep us going. 

It will keep us going even in the isolation we experience now.

 

Knowing God's love will keep us going through all challenges that will come our way. 

Application 

I love this passage of scripture. It immediately brought to mind one of my favorite writings from a dear friend of mine who is now with Jesus in heaven. It describes so perfectly how I feel about knowing His love and I hope it does the same for you. 

"My Dream...To know the depth and the height, the heat and the breath of His love. The kind of knowing that weakens my every strength; that distracts and confuses my every thought; that brings me to my knees when I want to stand high; that turns my running to rest; my rambling to silence; my fears to trust.The knowing that makes everything that once was big seem so small, and what was so small become more beautiful than ever before. Knowing that creates laughter, orders madness, moves the sloth, silences the gossip, frees the bound, heals the hurt, protects the child; And so knowing Him and His love is the beginning and end of all things...To dream without it would be a nightmare” - Karen Nita

My hope for myself and you is that we use this time of isolation to get alone with God and to fully know his love for us and our love for him. 

Deborah Lee

Ephesians___2

Scripture

 

Ephesians 2:7

 

“So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.”

 

Observation-What does it say?

Paul is writing to the Ephesians, reminding them all about who they were before Jesus Christ. They were dead in their sins. They were dead spiritually and therefore unable to have a relationship with God. They were defiled and unfit for God's holy presence, living according to their own selfish lusts. By their very nature, they were subject to God's wrath, and were doomed for eternal destruction. But God, who is rich in mercy, grace, and love, provided a way for all mankind to be saved from His wrath. He gave us His only son, Jesus. 

Understanding-What does it mean?

What story or legacy is my life leaving behind? Is it one that will bring glory and honor to God?

One thing that I learned at a marriage getaway was an illustration on how our marriages were in God's trophy case. Occasionally, God will take those marriages out of that trophy case, dust them off, and boast about them. Imagine that?! Our God using our marriages or our individual life stories to boast about to others, to tell the wonderful story of how we were once without Him in our lives. How we were once lost, sinful, and on the road to destruction. But then He found us. He transformed our lives to what it is now. Imagine the smile it brings to Him. Imagine the glory and honor it brings Him when the people we do life with see the transformation within us, because only God is the One who can change a sinful, prideful, and lowly man like me, and change me to the man I have become. Praise be to Jesus!

“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” Colossians 3:10 NLT

“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5 NLT

Life Application

Share with someone today something that God has transformed in you.

Father God thank You for loving me while I was still a sinner. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and the countless times You have forgiven me. May Your Holy Spirit abide in me today. Help me to live a life that is honoring to You. Help me to live my life today in a way that can point to Your amazing grace, mercy, and love. May the life I live and the legacy I leave behind be a great example that You can use to bring glory and honor to Your name for generations to come. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

-Moses Gaddi