Ehesians...
This morning as I was doing my devotions, I read some passages from Ephesians. One of them was from Ephesians 1 where Paul is writing a letter to the church in Ephesus about our inheritance through Christ Jesus and how He has chosen to reveal to us the mysteries of Christ...what glorious gifts God has given us through Christ Jesus, our Lord!
Then I read a little further in Chapter 1 vs. 15-23 and Paul tells the Ephesians that he thanks God for their faith and for their love for all the saints. He also remembers them in his prayers, asking God to give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they might know God better. Also, he prays that they would know the following better:
1) The hope which He has called them to...
2) the riches of His inheritance through Christ...
3) His incomparably great power for us who believe
4) Christ's power & position -- far above all rule & authority, power & dominion, above every title now and forever, head over everything and He fills everything in every way.
It occurred to me while reading this...what a gentle, loving approach Paul had with people when he sensed that they love the Lord. I believe that our prayers should be the same for our brothers & sisters in Christ. The hope to which He has called us--the hope of eternal life with Christ; the hope of salvation from death; the hope of a new life in Christ with all our sins washed away--the penalty paid! Hallelujah!!; the hope of the power we have through God's Holy Spirit; the riches of our inheritance...physical--mansion, streets of gold, rulers in God's kingdom...spiritual--eternal communion with Christ, singing with the angels around God's throne, no more sin, freedom in Christ, joint-heirs with Christ. The God who has all power and all dominion CARES FOR US!! What an awesome God we serve! We are truly rich!!
I read more in Ephesians...it is sooo full of God's love and promises to us as believers...but I wanted to zero in on a section that I read from Ephesians 4:1-16. Paul is urging us to "live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing one another in love. Keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Paul says that there is ONE body, ONE Spirit, we were called to ONE Baptism, ONE God & Father of all. I couldn't help but notice what Paul says about our responsibility as believers to other members of the body. God has really been speaking to me about this....
4:1 -- Live a life worthy of the calling we've received
4:2 -- bearing with one another in humility, gentleness, patience and love!
4:11-13 -- God gave us each different gifts (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc.) to prepare God's people for works of service
a) To building up the body
b) until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of Christ
c) until we all become mature
d) until we all attain a whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
4:15 -- Speak the truth in love until we all grow up into Christ.
Christ is the head from Him the WHOLE body grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work! The body is joined and held together by every supporting ligament. What are those supporting ligaments? Seems to me they are:
-- The Word of God
-- Prayer
-- The Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:17 -- We are not to be living as the "Gentiles" in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of ignorance. The ignorance is there because they have hardened their hearts. They have not stopped themselves from participating in any kind of impurity with a continual lust for more.
We, as Christians, were not taught that way. We know Christ and were taught about His truth. We were taught by Christ's teachings to put off our old self and be renewed in our minds by Christ & His righteousness. We are called to Holy Living!!
Well, there's so much...I love the book of Ephesians. Sorry this post is so long...I just felt led to share my devotion time with you all this morning! I hope you are as blessed as I was by these passages!
Have a great day....