Ephesians 4

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:14-16 ESV)

I really like this verse as it talks about us growing up in your spiritual maturity in Christ. First that we grow as to not be deceived by human cunning and be grounded in the truth which I think can be very important when today a lot of false feel good spirituality concepts are floating around. Many people looking for the satisfaction without the conviction which is definitely not the complete action of giving up our lives to God that the gospel calls us to. We need to know the words of God for ourselves so that we aren't deceived but rather can instruct people.

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:26-29 ESV)

This passage points to some very good lessons that are beneficial to remember. In the last couple years, I was convicted a lot about holding onto anger that I just wasn't showing but letting it manifest itself in my words and actions. It wasn't until I saw the destructive nature of what I was doing that I felt the call to forgive. God has forgiven me for so much and so many times that I've sinned against him, but I was too arrogant to forgive others who were flawed and sinful like myself. The story that really convicted me is on this website. I would encourage you to read it since it is short and think about the times that you were upset about the sin of another and held onto it all too long. http://www.fisheaters.com/twomonks.html

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31, 32 ESV)

I thought this fit in so well with what I was just taking about that it hit the stop as well. Put away the anger and forgive as Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 3

Ok so I went a different route with this one then typically because of what Verse 3 said:

assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. (Ephesians 3:2, 3 ESV)

This brought my mind completely to Paul's conversion which I had not thought about in a while so I decided to go back to it because I couldn't get my mind off of the incredibly display of God's power and ability to turn around any life that is so clearly shown in the case of Paul. Yes this is a little long, but I thought it was important to see the revelation, his eyes being opened and the amazement of the Jews to see such a transformation in no time at all. So here it is from Acts 9:

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do. The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here I am, Lord. And the Lord said to him, Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name. But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name. So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God. And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests? But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:1-22 ESV)

I think this sequence of events is incredible enough to read. Bringing about the complete transformation of a man who was persecuting the disciples and killing to openly preaching himself. He was on his way to arrest more and then with Jesus' appearance to him everything changed. All leading up to his proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ which confounded the Jews because it was so contrary to his recent actions. This is a great example to me of the incredible power of God to work in the lives of anyone no matter how much sin they have committed or how much anger may have filled their hearts.

Ephesians 2

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV)

This was right after the lead up of the verses talking about the hold that sin and temptation have on us. I think it just describes it so well putting it that he is rich in mercy and his great love because we are dead in our trespasses. We are in no way deserving because all of the sin in our lives and all of the times that we fall short, but he loves us and is merciful even when we reject him in our sin.

In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22 ESV)

I think that this is a great reminder that we are a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit and Acts provides many examples of the power that the Holy Spirit can work in us when we are faithful and put our trust completely in God. It also makes me thing about the passages that refer to our bodies as a temple and how we should treat it as such and prize and take care of ourselves. As well as treat ourselves as a dwelling place of God. That in and of itself is enough to convict us in our actions but also provide us with boldness in the reassurance that the Holy Spirit is present within us.

Ephesians 1

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:18-20 ESV)

It is Paul's prayer that we may know what awaits us in Christ, and the last point stuck out to me the most where he talks about the "immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe." Talk about an incredible reassurance that all things are possible for those who believe in his true power. It's also quite convicting that we should never be fearful or consider ourselves too insignificant to do his work with his immeasurable power with us.

Ephesians

Hey everybody,

We start tomorrow with Ephesians 1.

Remember it's just one chapter a day and post your verse of choice with a short reflection as a comment on my post.