1 Corinthians 1:4-9

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

I give thanks to my God for you all at all times because of the grace of God that was being given to you all in Christ Jesus.  Because in every way you all are being made rich in Him – in all speech and all knowledge – just as the testimony of Christ was being established in you all so that you all do not lack in any spiritual gift while eagerly awaiting the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.  And He will establish you all in faith until the end – blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you all were being called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Let’s look at Paul’s thanksgiving.  Notice that Paul does say that he gives thanks for the Corinthians.  But his thankfulness for the Corinthians is because of the grace of God that was given to them.  Paul is in a position of gratefulness because of God’s work.  It is not the people so much for whom Paul is thankful; it is the way that God’s grace is pouring through them.

What is the difference between being thankful for a person and being thankful for the way God is working through them?  Which position helps humbleness continue to exist more easily?

Second Thought:

Paul then reminds the Corinthians that they are being made rich in Christ.  As we draw closer to God, our wisdom and knowledge increases.  This allows us to speak more confidently into people’s lives.  This allows us to use our spiritual gifts more effectively.  This allows us to be about the work of the Father with better results and direction.  We may not be growing rich in terms of the world.  But in ways that absolutely matter we are growing rich every day we draw closer to the Lord.

Where are you rich in Christ?  How is your wisdom and knowledge growing?  Where are you able to invest this growth into the lives of others?

Third Thought:

Finally, Paul reminds the Corinthian people that God will establish them in faith.  God will keep them strong.  God will keep them blameless.  God will do all of the heavy lifting, essentially!  It is God who is faithful.  Our job is simply to respond to the doors that God opens up in our life.

Do you rely upon God to do great things through you or do you try and do them yourself?  Why might it be important to be reminded more often of God’s faithfulness than our own faithfulness?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ called through a will of God, and Sosthenes, the brother.  To the church of God, the one that is in Corinth having been made holy in Christ Jesus, to the called holy ones with everyone in every place who calls upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: theirs and ours.  Grace to you all and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

When studying a letter of Paul, it is usually very important to stop and reflect upon the word that Paul uses to describe himself in the opening few words.  In some letters it is apostle as it is here.  In other letters it is slave, servant, or even prisoner.  But as I said, the word here is “apostle.”  The word apostle literally means “one who is sent out on the agenda of the one who sent them out.”  There are two points to this word.  The first point is that an apostle is inherently submitted to a master.  In Paul’s case, this word implies that he is submitted to the Father.  The second part of this word is that Paul is sent out to accomplish the agenda of the Father.  Paul isn’t out there to do his own will and accomplish his own desires.  He is out there to accomplish the will of the Father.  This thought pushes us back into why we need to be submitted to the Father.  The only way to accomplish the will of the Father is to submit to Him so that our identity comes from Him.

Are you an apostle of the Father?  Are you sent into the world to accomplish His will?  How is that working out for you?  Why might Paul want to focus on identifying with being an apostle instead of one of his other favorite descriptions like slave or prisoner?

Second Thought:

The second important thing to do when beginning a letter of Paul is to step back and look at the recipients and their description.  Paul tells us that he is writing to the church in Corinth.  He reminds them that they are “having been made holy.”  Note that this description is in the passive voice.  They did not make themselves holy.  They were made holy by someone else!  Of course we know that it is God who made them holy.

What does the word “holy” mean?  {I’ll give you a hint: the word “holy” should never be used as a synonym for “spiritual” or “religious.”  If you’d like the answer, click anywhere on this sentence to be taken to another blog post on this very topic.}  Why would Paul want to remind the Corinthians that they were made holy?  Are you being made holy?

Third Thought:

Finally, Paul extends grace and peace to them.  He doesn’t extend his own grace and peace.  After all, what good are his grace and peace to them?  God’s grace and peace is what matters!  But Paul reminds them that through Jesus we can receive God’s grace and be at peace with Him.  That is a great fundamental understanding with which to begin this new book of the Bible.

Have you received God’s grace?  How do you know?  Are you at peace with God?  How do you know?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Ephesians 6:21-24

Ephesians 6:21-24

And in order that you all should also know the things according to me – that which I do – Tychikos the beloved brother and the faithful servant in the Lord will make all things known to you all.  I sent him to you all for this same reason, in order that you all should know the things regarding us and he should encourage your hearts.  Peace and love to the brothers with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace with all the ones who love our Lord Jesus Christ in an unceasing manner.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Tychikos is a man that we know little about, but he is someone that we know followed Paul and went out to various church leaders at Paul’s request.  We hear in Colossians 4:7 that he is a beloved and faithful man that Paul is sending to the Colossians.  In Titus 3:12 we get the idea that Paul sends Tychikos to Titus so that Titus could come back to him.  In Acts 20:4 we hear that Tychikos went into Greece with Paul.  What does all this tell us about Tychikos?  He is a faithful man who travelled with Paul and learned how to do ministry at his feet.  He is a trusted man of mission that Paul feels comfortable letting mission flow from Paul through Tychikos and into the world.  To put it simple, Tychikos likes Paul, listens to Paul, and is willing to serve Paul.

What about Tychikos makes him beloved and faithful?  Who would call you beloved and faithful?  Who do you like, listen to, and serve?  Who likes you, listens to you, and serves you?

Second Thought:

When we look past Tychikos we can see the mission of Tychikos.  Tychikos is sent to Ephesus and other places to encourage them.  He is sent to bring word from Paul and let them know how things are going with Paul.  He is an exhorter.  He is a truth speaker.  He’s not sent to give a sales-pitch or get money or lay down the law.  He is going to Ephesus to bring Paul’s letter to them and tell them how Paul is doing.  He is going to tell them the good and the bad: Paul’s spiritual victories and his worldly strife.  He is a mouthpiece of truth, but one who understands that the truth does encourage.

How would people be encouraged by the spiritual truth in Paul’s letter?  How would people be encouraged by hearing about Paul’s spiritual victories?  How would the people even be encouraged by hearing about Paul’s worldly strife?

Third Thought:

Paul ends this letter with a small blessing upon the people.  He asks that grace and peace come to those who love Christ in an unceasing manner.  The word “unceasing” is the last word in this letter in the original Greek.  It is a word that describes a process that is uninterrupted even by death.  Thus, Paul isn’t using the word “unceasing” to speak against people who occasionally have questions or even doubts.  Rather, he is reminding us that a genuine love of God passes through death.  A genuine love of God is a process – a way of life – not an emotion.  A love of God transcends our thoughts, or emotions, and our passion.  A genuine love of God is who we should be while knowing that it will pass through us into new life after death.

Do you think of a love of God as an emotion or a thought?  How should love be so much more than this?  What does it mean to you to hear Paul speak about love by using a word that implies a meaning of the eternal?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Ephesians 6:18-20

Ephesians 6:18-20

Through every prayer and supplication while praying in every season in the Spirit – and while keeping alert into the same thing in every perseverance and supplication regarding all the holy ones and on my behalf – in order that a word should be given to me in the opening of my mouth to make known in boldness the mystery of the good news, for the sake of which I am an ambassador in chain in order that I should speak boldly in it as it is necessary for me to speak.  

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

After we discuss the weapons and armor of God, we come to a section of prayer – albeit a fairly confusing section in the original Greek!  Paul reminds the Ephesians to pray for all the saints as well as himself.  He reminds them to pray in supplication – a fancy word for prayer that is a plea for either yourself or another person.  Paul knows that when it comes to the spiritual battle the only thing we can bring to the table is prayer.  God equips us.  He provides the grace and the strength and the Word and the salvation and everything else.  What is left?  We can pray, aligning our will to God.  We can pray, asking God for that which is important to us.  When compared to all the other weapons and armor of God, prayer seems like such a small thing.  But in reality, prayer is one of the most powerful elements of our spiritual life.

Do you value prayer?  What about prayer is easy to value?  What makes prayer easy to not value?

Second Thought:

Paul also speaks about being in chains.  We know that Paul suffered much in his pursuit of Christ.  People argued with him almost incessantly.  People rejected what he said a lot.  People had him arrested when they could.  They beat him when they could.  On more than one occasion people planned for a reason to kill him.  He suffered adversity for Christ to say the least.

What adversity do you suffer in Christ?  How do you face such adversity?

Third Thought:

Something interesting comes out of Paul’s statement of being in chains.  Notice what he asks the Ephesians to pray about.  He doesn’t ask to be kept from persecution.  Yeah, I’m going to confess that was a really humbling sentence to write.  What he asks about is to have the courage to speak boldly.  Paul isn’t looking to avoid persecution at all.  Rather, he is asking to be able to speak truth and let persecution come if it must.  Now there is a humbling perspective to ponder for this day.

Why is it humbling to hear Paul’s request for prayer so that he might speak more boldly?  Do you genuinely desire to speak more boldly?  If so, what do you need to have happen in order to make that a reality?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 6:21-24

Ephesians 6:16-17

Ephesians 6:16-17

… after taking up the shield of faith in everything – in which you all will be powerful enough to quench every arrow of the evil one that has been burning.  And receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The fourth piece of equipment is the shield of faith.  We should remember what the ancient people meant by the word “faith.”  Many of us think that faith simply means believing in God.  But the Greek word also means obeying God.  It is this understanding that gives Dietrich Bonheoffer the ability to say: “Only those who obey believe; only those who believe obey.”  You see, anyone can say they believe.  But if all we ever do is talk, then we will never be fully prepared in life.  But if we instead practice what we believe, our faith will be strengthened by our actions and we will be secure.  The shield of faith protects us by knitting understanding and practice together into one solid defense against the evil ways of the world and the Devil.

How secure is your faith?  How well do you put faith into practice?  Does the evidence in your life indicate that your faith is secure when it comes to interaction with the world?

Second Thought:

Salvation comes from God.  It is the message that God has taken care of our sinfulness through His own action and not through our own.  Paul compares this to a helmet, which is an implement of protection.  Paul is saying that our salvation is a great deal of protection for us!  Paul is absolutely right.  Our salvation comes to us through no effort of our own and through no requirement of God.  Why is this protection?  This is protection because we can know that what is given to us based on God’s character cannot be taken away from us based on our own character.  We receive God’s salvation and cannot lose it so long as we continue to remain in Him.

How do you feel God’s protection knowing that salvation is based on God’s character and not yours?  How can this inspire you to be more obedient to Him?

Third Thought:

The last part of God’s weapons and armor about which Paul speaks is the sword of the Spirit.  Paul defines this concept more deeply when he calls it the Word of God.  We know that swords are a great offensive weapon, see Hebrews 4:12.  We also know that swords are capable of parrying and are thus a defensive weapon, too.  The same is true with the Word of God.  The Word of God is our greatest weapon to pierce into the hearts of the people to whom God has challenged me to challenge.  The Word of God is a great first line of defense against the attacks of others.  The Word of God may be last in the list, but it is certainly not last in significance!

How do you use the Word of God?  What prevents you from using this weapon more effectively?  How can you increase your skill with the Sword of the Spirit?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 6:18-20

Ephesians 6:14-15

Ephesians 6:14-15

Therefore stand: after girding your loins in truth, after putting on the breastplate of righteousness, and after binding your feet in readiness of the Gospel of peace …

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We ended the section yesterday with Paul’s exhortation to stand firm in the face of an evil day.  The first part of the verses in this section is a repeat of the command: “Stand!” But in order to stand firm there is a process of equipping.  The first part of equipment that Paul talks about is the belt.  In Paul’s day, the belt held together everything the soldier needed.  The belt held his weapon.  The belt held his armor close to him.  The belt supported the weight of any armor over his legs and thighs.  In fact, even in modern police we see that the belt is central to what they do.  The belt holds up their uniform while also holding all of their weapons and tools.  The belt is what keeps a soldier together.  And what does Paul compare this belt to in the Christian?  The belt is truth.  It is truth that keeps everything together for us.  Satan and the world will come at us with lies.  But the truth sets us free of Satan and his empty promises.

What does it say about truth that Paul begins with it when telling us how to stand?  Do you agree that it is truth that holds everything together?

Second Thought:

The next thing that Paul speaks about is the breastplate.  The breastplate protected the main organs of the body in the torso.  The breastplate protects the vital parts needed for living.  To what does Paul compare this in the Christian?  Righteousness.  When a person lives a life of righteousness, they are protected.  It is difficult to bring charges or accusations or threats against someone who is genuinely living a life of righteousness.  Righteousness is one of the best defenses that we could ever hope to employ.

Do you live a life of righteousness?  Where is your defense secure?  Where is your defense weak?

Third Thought:

Third, Paul speaks about the preparation that comes from the Gospel of peace.  This preparation is two-fold.  In Christ, we know that we can have peace with God.  This should make us ready to do His work because we know that nothing can separate us from His love.  The second part of this is that we know that we are called to bring peace with God to a world that does not have it.  In order to stand, we must prepare ourselves in the peace of God to go out into a world that needs to hear about such peace but may not yet be ready to accept it.  It is this element of “going out” that makes Paul’s connection of peace and the sandals make sense.

Do you feel the peace of God?  How can that peace help you feel ready to do His will?  How can you share that peace with others?  To whom can you share that peace?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 6:16-18a

Ephesians 6:10-13

Ephesians 6:10-13

For the remaining time, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His strength.  Put on the complete set of God’s weapons and armor in order that you are powerful enough to stand against the crafty scheming of the Devil, because our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against rulers, against authorities, against the ones who rule over this world of darkness, against the spiritual ones of evil in the heavenly places.  Because of this, take up the complete set of God’s weapons and armor in order that you all should be powerful enough to resist in the day of evil and to stand after accomplishing everything.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In the first sentence of this section we have an emphasis on strength.  In fact, not only do we have an emphasis on strength as a topic but we have the emphasis in the Greek, too.  Paul uses three different words in this first sentence alone.  The command, “be strong” (ἐνδυναμόομαι), is a word that rather pathetically most English translations translate as “to be capable” … but in reality it is the root word for our English word dynamite.  The next word, “power” (κράτος), is a word that is often used with respect to might or ability to control things.  The third word, “strength” (ἰσχύς), is a word that really means exceptional capability in any direction but it is most often used with respect to physical capacity.  What we see here is Paul reminding us that in the Lord we are explosively powerful, capable of exerting control, and exceptional in capacity.  That’s a great place to begin!

Do you see yourself as strong in the faith?  How can that strength lead to positive interaction in the world as you follow God?

Second Thought:

Having spoken about our ability to be strong, Paul then turns us to focus on the ones against whom we use our power.  We’re not fighting against the average people in this world – although those are the people against whom we most commonly think we battle.  Rather, we are fighting against the rulers and powers of this world.  We are fighting against the ones who intentionally rule this world in darkness.  We are fighting against the evil spiritual forces of this world.  Perhaps our greatest foe is the Devil himself.  Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but the great power around us.

How do you feel knowing that in many respects your greatest adversary is the Devil?  How does this help us speak to our need to be strong that we discussed in the first thought?

Third Thought:

As we get set to transition into the next section of verses, we should talk about the complete set of God’s armor.  Notice that it is God’s armor given to us.  It is not our armor.  We do not fight with our own strength.  We fight with God’s strength.  Because we fight with God’s strength, we can also be confident that we will stand when all is done.  Lean upon Him, and victory is ours.

How do you lean upon God?  Why is it important to you that you fight with God’s weapons and armor?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 6:14-15

Ephesians 6:5-9

Ephesians 6:5-9

Slaves, obey the lords according to the flesh with fear and trembling in sincerity of your heart as the Lord – not according to a desire to call attention to yourself as a people pleaser but as a slave of Christ while doing the will of God out of your soul – while serving with good will as to the Lord and not to mankind having known that if each one should do something good he will receive this back from the Lord whether he is a slave or a free man.  And lords, do the same things to them – while giving up the threats – having known that their lord and yours is in heaven and there is no partiality from Him.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In this section, we have an interesting expression.  Paul speaks about the “lords according to the flesh.”  I believe he is using this expression to illustrate a neat point.  We only have one true Lord: Jesus Christ.  But, that doesn’t mean we don’t have earthly masters: “lords according to the flesh.”  If Paul fundamentally had an issue with us putting ourselves under people of this world, he would say so.  To use Paul’s verbiage here, it is okay to be a slave.  It is okay to be a servant.  It is okay to submit to other people – so long as they do not usurp God’s role in our life.  In fact, one might even suggest that such a role is beneficial.  After all, what better way to practice submitting to God than to submit to people in this life whom God has chosen to demonstrate Himself in our own life?

To whom do you submit?  Why can submission be difficult?  What is the benefit that can be gained through submission?

Second Thought:

Paul then describes how it is that we should serve.  We should not be about calling attention to ourselves.  We’re not to be “people-pleasers.”  Rather, we are to do the will of God out of our very soul.  I think this is a real issue.  So often we do things to please people.  So often we do things not because God has called us to do them but rather because we want the praise of others.  Then we find ourselves burning out.  Then we find ourselves being frustrated.  It fundamentally comes back to an issue of identity.  When we live out of our identity from Christ we will feel satisfied.  When we live out of our identity that comes from others, we will eventually find frustration and disappointment.

From where does your identity come?  Are you a people pleaser or a God pleaser?

Third Thought:

Paul doesn’t only speak to the slaves; he also speaks to the masters.  He tells them that they should give up their threats.  Let’s face it.  This is one of the biggest fears of people who are at the mercy of others.  Nobody likes to have their ability to provide for their family threatened from above.  Paul says to stop it.  It’s just not Christ-like behavior.  Then Paul gives them a bit of a reminder.  He reminds them that God isn’t a God of partiality.  God is not interested in their power, prestige, or money.  Rather, God is interested in how they behave and if they follow Him.  Again, Paul is telling them that if they are in a position of power, they had best use that God-given power appropriately.

Do you control anyone by way of threats?  How does it make you feel to know that such behavior will be judged harshly by God?  Are you controlled at all by way of threats?  How does such behavior hinder your efforts?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 6:10-13

Ephesians 6:1-4

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord – for this is right.  Honor your father and mother – which is the first commandment in a promise – in order that it should become well for you and you will be long-lived upon the earth.  And fathers, do not provoke your children into anger but raise them into maturity in discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The word that opens this section of scripture that catches everyone’s attention is obey.  And the word is obey in the Greek (ὑπακούω).  But it is an obedience that comes out of listening, as the root of this word is “to hear.” (ἀκούω)  Paul isn’t telling children to blindly do what they are told.  Neither is he telling them to “learn how to play the game.”  In this Greek word, Paul is telling children to listen to parents, to absorb what they are trying to tell them, and then to live it out because they have assimilated the culture being passed onto them.  This is not just a word of “do as you are told.”  It is a word of “assimilate a good culture” – the culture your parents teach to you.

How often do you tie the idea of obedience to the idea of assimilation?  In what way is assimilation a necessary first step to true obedience?

Second Thought:

There is a point to assimilation and obedience.  Young people are known for having energy and creativity.  But young people in general do not have the wisdom of the ages.  In their enthusiasm, young people are prone to make mistakes even if they are well-meaning.  But Paul tells us that in honoring our father and mother – that is, in assimilating the culture of wisdom that comes from people who have more experience than we do – then things will go well for us.  By assimilating the culture, we will be able to make wiser decisions before we actually could have naturally developed the wisdom within ourselves.  By assimilating the culture that comes before us and obeying our parents, we will make better decisions and live longer and better lives.

Can you think of a moment when you got into trouble because you struck out on your own against cultural wisdom?  How has the wisdom of other people been able to help you in your own life?

Third Thought:

Paul’s last note here in this section is specifically to fathers.  That’s an interesting point, because in the typical worldly culture it is not the father upon whom the responsibility for raising children rests.  But Paul specifically calls out the fathers.  It is the father’s job to make sure that his children are given access to the faith.  This doesn’t mean that the mother cannot do it, but it is fundamentally the father’s responsibility.  God will hold the fathers accountable for the faith transmission in a household.

Why is this an interesting point?  Do you think many men and fathers feel equipped for this task?  What can spiritual people do to help fathers understand and accomplish this role?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 6:5-9

Ephesians 5:25-33

Ephesians 5:25-33

Husbands, love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and handed Himself over for it in order that He should make it holy by the washing of the water in the Word in order that He should present the splendid church to Him while not having a spot or wrinkle or any such thing but in order that it should be holy and blameless.  Thus, husbands are also under an obligation to love their wives as their own bodies.  The one who loves his own wife loves himself.  For nobody ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it just as Christ does for the church because we are members of His body.  For this reason a man will leave father and mother and he will be joined together with his wife.  And the two will be into one flesh.  This is a great mystery.  And I am saying it is into Christ and into the church.  In any case, you all also are the ones according to the one.  Let each one love his own wife as himself.  And the wife in order that she should respect her husband.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Again we return to the point that we started yesterday.  Paul is clear about speaking to how husbands should relate to their wives.  You will take note that Paul does not emphasize domination or superiority.  Rather, Paul emphasizes love.  In fact, Paul emphasizes sacrificial love.  Christ handed himself over for the church.  Jesus allowed Himself to die under God’s agenda so that the church would be saved.  This is the same perspective that a man should have for his wife according to Paul.  A husband should love his wife deeply enough to sacrifice his own agenda for God’s will that He love his wife.

How many husbands do you know that demonstrate this kind of love towards their wife?  How can you draw close to that example and promote it in the world around you?

Second Thought:

We continue to hear Paul speak about how Christ did what He did in order to present the splendid church while not having spot or wrinkle or blemish.  This is how husbands should look upon their wives.  For that matter, I think this is just a good model for marriage period.  Spouses should not look to embarrass of humiliate one another.  Spouses should not find ways to denigrate one another.  Rather, spouses should look to make one another blameless.  Specifically, Paul tells husbands that they should set the example and work to present their wives and a spotless, blameless treasure.

How many marriages do you know that exemplify this dynamic?  Does the world typically look to portray marriage as spouses looking out for one another so that they appear blameless and spotless and holy?

Third Thought:

In the first thought we focused on the sacrificial nature of a husband’s relationship with his wife.  In the second thought we talk about how a husband’s love for his wife should be sanctifying.  In the end of this passage we find that a husband’s love should be unbreakable.  The two shall become one flesh.  Just as nothing can break Christ’s bond to the church, nothing should be able to break a husband’s love for his wife, either.

Do you think of love as unbreakable?  Do you think the typical man in the world thinks of love as unbreakable?  If you are a man, how can you believe love is unbreakable?  If you are a woman, how important is it to you to be with a man who considers love unbreakable?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 6:1-4

Ephesians 5:21-24

Ephesians 5:21-24

While being submitted to one another in the fear of Christ, wives are to their own husbands as to the Lord, because a husband is a head of the wife as also Christ is a head of the church.  He is a savior of the body.  But as the church is being submitted to Christ, thus also wives to the husbands in everything.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The reality is that this passage simply makes more sense as beginning with verse 21 and not verse 22.  The Greek grammar supports this understanding as well.  Paul tells us that wives and husbands are to be submitted to one another.  In that context, the wife is to relate to her husband as she relates to Christ.  This really makes much sense.  When a wife and husband are submitted to one another, why wouldn’t the wife treat her husband with the same kind of respect and love as she gives to Christ?  But what we see here in this passage is that Paul speaks of mutual submission in marriage, not one-sided submission.

Why might it work best to understand marriage through the lens of mutual submission?  What is likely to happen when only one spouse submits?

Second Thought:

We’ll hear more about this in the following section, but we can introduce the concept here.  Paul does say that the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.  But then look at what he says next.  Christ is the savior of the body.  How did Christ save the body, that is, the church?  Christ saved the church through sacrificial love.  Christ saved the church by abandoning the human agenda and picking up the agenda of God.  I’m not saying every husband needs to die for his wife.  But I am saying that the husband will be the head of the wife when the husband acts like Christ.  When the husband abandons his own agenda and picks up the agenda of God, then why wouldn’t a Christian wife follow her husband?

Why would a Christian marriage benefit from the husband abandoning his agenda and adopting the agenda of God?  Why would a wife follow such a man so readily?

Third Thought:

At the beginning of this passage, Paul tells us the reason that we can submit to one another is literally fear of Christ.  But this fear doesn’t mean a cowering phobia.  Rather, we fear Christ in awe and reverence.  We are told all throughout scripture that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.  In this passage we can understand that the foundation of a Christian family is in the fear of Christ.

How can you demonstrate fear of Christ?  How does a fear of Christ differ from a phobia of Christ?  What does Paul really mean instead of being terrified?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 5:25-33

Ephesians 5:15-20

Ephesians 5:15-20

Therefore, notice carefully how you all walk around not as unwise but as wise, working urgently with the time, because the days are evil.  Because of this, do not become senseless but understand what is the will of the Lord.  And do not become intoxicated by wine, in which is recklessness, but be filled in the Spirit while speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs while chanting and singing with instruments in your heart to the Lord while giving thanks at all times in everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul tells us very clearly here about wisdom and senselessness.  We are to take notice of how we walk around – i.e. live.  The pull of the world will draw us into senseless action.  The draw of the world will cause us to do things that have so little value.  But Paul tells us that we are to make the most of our days.  Although the days are evil – perhaps because the days are evil – we must work hard.  In order to make the most of our days, it is important that we are focused on the will of the Lord.  Here is the secret to not becoming senseless or unwise: focus upon and do the will of the Lord.

Do you know what the will of the Lord is for you?  How do you discern that?  How do you stay on that course once you find it?

Second Thought:

Paul then talks about alcohol.  He tells us not to become intoxicated.  We can call this drunkenness; Paul is not making a case about small amounts of wine such as you might encounter in church at communion.  But the neat thing is that to which Paul compares intoxication.  He says that it is reckless.  The word here means “action without thinking of consequence.”  What makes being intoxicated wrong is that it is selfish.  It takes no account of the community around us.  It is an action that is purely based in the self-centered desires of the individual without regard of the people around them.  In contrast, compare this to being filled with the Spirit of God.  With the Spirit of God, we are filled with God’s presence and learn to look outward and make disciples.  Drunkenness is about self-centeredness; spirituality is about community.

When you think about drunkenness, do you think it makes sense to think of it as a communal sin – that is, a sin rooted in self-centered ignorance of the people around us?  Why is such behavior an anathema to God?

Third Thought:

In the last phrases in this section of scripture we get a true sense of rejoicing.  Paul tells us to give thanks in everything.  He tells us to speak psalms (that is, spiritual poetry).  He tells us to chant (that is, to sing melodically without instruments).  He tells us to sing with instruments.  In other words, Paul wants us to be joyful.  Spirituality isn’t about dour and grim behavior.  Spirituality is about rejoicing in the Lord for what He has done for us!

Is your spirituality joyful?  What helps you be joyful in the Lord?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 5:22-24

Ephesians 5:11-14

Ephesians 5:11-14

And do not join in fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness – but rather, expose them!  For it is shameful to even speak about the things that become in secret by them.  But all things that have been exposed by the light are being made visible, for each thing that is being made visible is light.  Therefore it says, “Wake, the one who sleeps, and be raised up out of the dead and Christ will shine for you.” 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Notice again that Paul continues to speak of light and to do so in the particular manner that we saw yesterday.  Paul doesn’t say that those things that become visible are in the light.  He literally says that everything that is made visible is light.  We do not just enter into God’s presence; we literally become God’s presence.  God dwells with us.  The promise is so much greater than having God within us.  We are literally one with God.  That is the promise of God to which we gain access in Jesus Christ.

Do you believe this promise for yourself?  Do you see yourself as not just being in the presence of God, but actually being one with God?  In what ways is this difficult to believe?

Second Thought:

Going back to the beginning of the passage, let’s look at the exhortation that Paul gives.  “Do not join in fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness!”  Just don’t go there!  I know, that is easier said than done.  Even as I type those words, I convict myself.  The good news is that God also knows this.  This is why He allows us to repent and receive forgiveness.  That being said, Paul’s advice is still sound.  If we just don’t go into the ways of darkness then we’ll be much better off!  If we expose our sinfulness to those who can hold us accountable and help us through it, we will be far more equipped to defeat the darkness within.

Where do you struggle the most with the unfruitful works of darkness?  What helps you best in your fight to resist those unfruitful behaviors?

Third Thought:

The promise in the last verse of this section is great.  Notice the truth it proclaims.  We are “asleep.”  Sleep is often an analogy for death.  This is why the quote then goes on to say, “be raised up out of the dead.”  We are by default spiritually dead.  Our default position in this world is not to be alive in God.  Therefore, it is important for us to come to God and “wake up.”  It is up to us to embrace God’s offer of grace and rise up out of our spiritual death into spiritual life.  Of course, we know that this starts with God because the Bible says, “be raised up” and not “rise up.”  To say that we are raised up implies that someone else does the raising.  God saves us.  God raises us up.  We simply embrace what He is doing.

How readily do you embrace what God offers?  When is it easy to be raised up out of sin?  When can it be difficult to be raised up out of our sin?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 5:15-21

Ephesians 5:6-10

Ephesians 5:6-10

Let no one deceive you all by empty words.  For because of this the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not become their partner.  For you all were once darkness, but now you all are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light – for the fruit of light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth – while testing what is well-pleasing to the Lord.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

When Paul begins this section, he is still speaking about the sins of the prior section we studied yesterday.  He tells the Ephesians that they should be careful to not be deceived by empty words.  He then says that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  The sons of disobedience are the ones who speak empty words.  What those empty words are is pretty simple to infer.  There are people who tell us not to worry about sin.  There are people who tell us that we can do whatever we want because God will forgive anything we do.  While God is forgiving of the repentant, we have to be careful that we do not turn God’s grace into empty speech.  God will judge and put His wrath upon those who sin and turn His love into empty words.

Have you ever been told not to worry about sin?  Why is it tempting to listen to such words?  Why would we consider this “empty speech?”

Second Thought:

Notice the vocabulary that Paul gives us when he speaks about light and darkness.  Paul doesn’t say we were once in darkness and now are in light.  Rather, Paul says that we once were darkness.  We didn’t just dwell in darkness, we were the darkness.  Our sinful nature corrupts the world around us.  We are darkness.  But the good news is that in Christ we are light.  We don’t have to be darkness all our life.  We can be light.

Where are you darkness?  Where are you light?  How can you minimize the darkness and maximize the light?

Third Thought:

Paul then encourages us once more to walk as children of light.  We are to be righteous.  We are to be good.  We are to be true.  But Paul also tells to be careful.  He makes sure to tell us to test what is good.  While we may become light, we should face the reality that being good does not come easy to us.  We are prone to darkness.  We need to test good in order to make sure that we are recognizing good properly.

How are you righteous or good or true?  How can you test good without doubting God?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 5:11-14

Ephesians 5:3-5

Ephesians 5:3-5

But let not fornication and all moral impurity or avarice be named in you all – just as is fitting among the holy ones.  Also let not indecent behavior, foolish talk, or vulgar speech – which is not right – be named, but rather thanksgiving.  For know this while having knowledge: that all fornication, moral impurity, or avarice – that is, an idolater – does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In verse 3 we hear Paul talking about being “fit among the saints.”  Paul isn’t talking about this as if there were a bar of achievement that we have to reach.  Remember, neither we nor Paul believe in works righteousness.  It’s not like we have to do certain things and live a precise way to be saved.  We are saved because Jesus died for our sins on the cross!  That being said, God is holy and holy means “separate.”  So if God is within us, we should respond by living in a manner that respects a certain morality.  To put it bluntly, if God is holy and we are to be God’s holy ones then we need to live according to a moral standard that is separate from the rest of the world.

What morality do you think Paul is talking about here?  Why is it important to understand that this call to live as the holy ones live is not a work-righteous call?  Would you call your life a “life fitting among the holy ones?”

Second Thought:

In this section Paul gives us three images of improper behavior to focus upon.  He tells us about fornication (literally the noun is pornos, πόρνος, from which our English word pornography comes).  Fornication is simply any sexual act outside of marriage.  In Christian terms it is a sexual act performed with another person by someone who is single, divorced, or even married but doing the act with someone other than the person’s spouse.  The next word is moral impurity (literally, uncleanliness).  This is a word that includes any act or choice that makes you unclean in the presence of God.  The last major word that Paul focuses upon is avarice.  Avarice would include all kinds of greed and coveting.  Essentially, it is the passionate desire to possess either things that are not ours to possess or things that are more than we truly need.  No wonder Paul calls this idolatry!  But if we look at these three concepts, hear is what we can hear Paul telling to us.  Most human beings will struggle with either sexual sin, making ethical decisions, or wanting more than they need.  In fact, I think it is fair to say that most human beings struggle with more than just one of those things.  This is why Paul tells us to exclude these things from our life.  If we can learn to put these areas under control, then God can really use us to bring much help to a broken world!

With which of these three concepts do you personally struggle?  How do you know that you struggle there?  How can you help ensure that struggle is won in a godly manner?

Third Thought:

Paul lowers a drastic boom in the last verse of this section.  There is no place in the kingdom of God for people who live according to these three areas.  We must be careful here.  Again, we do not want to slide into works righteousness.  Remember, none of us live a good enough life to be saved on our own merit.  Rather, we are saved by Jesus Christ.  So what is Paul saying?  Paul is telling us that we should not live in a way that reinforces this behavior.  We should not live in a way that gives the impression that such behavior is acceptable.  We should not practice this behavior and say, “Oh, God will forgive me anyway.”  We should not give permission for these areas to live in our life!  Yes, they may occasionally happen; but we should repent of them, not accept or embrace them!  God has called us to humble obedience of His ways, not to some exploitation of His grace!

Do you exploit the grace of God?  Where in your life are you not living in humble obedience to His ways?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 5:6-10

Ephesians 5:1-2

Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore become imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love just as Christ loved us and handed Himself over for our sake as an offering and sacrifice to God into a fragrant aroma.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Imitation.  Who among us really likes to imitate other people?  Truthfully, we all like to imitate other people; but we’d rather not confess it.  While we are natural imitators, we like to think ourselves to be unique.  Paul reminds us that our nature is imitation, not uniqueness.  Therefore, if our nature is to imitate, then we should imitate God.

Do you think of yourself as an imitator?  Why does being an imitator have a negative connotation?  What in God do you think you should imitate?

Second Thought:

The second thing Paul tells us to do is to live like children and walk in love.  I think this is one of my favorite dynamics that little children have.  Little children – until they are taught otherwise – love their parents so much that they can’t often see their flaws.  Little children inherently desire to please their parents.  Little children trust their parents.  Paul tells us that we should be like them.  We need to love like they love; we need to live like they live.  Too often our love and trust is blinded by real experience.  But we serve a God who exceeds the real experience.

Do you love as a child loves?  Who is it easy to love this way?  Who is it difficult to love this way?

Third Thought:

Speaking of love, Paul gives us a great example.  Jesus loved unconditionally.  Jesus gave up His own life for the sake of people who did not deserve it.  Jesus gave up His life for people whom He needed to look beyond their faults and failings.  Jesus trusted the Father in that His sacrifice would not be in vain.  In doing these things, Jesus became a pleasing aroma before the Lord.

How do you feel Jesus’ unconditional love?  What failings does Jesus look beyond as He dies for your sake?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 5:3-5