Ephesians 6:1-4 Children and Parents

Honor your father and mother so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on this earth.
There is no truer statement in the bible. From personal experience those who brought us into this world also have a deep seated desire to send us back out of it when we don't obey them.

But more and more I'm beginning to see how parents play a part in our lives. Whether we've got single parents, both of em', Foster parents, or God himself has given us a spiritual father or mother. Our guardians and guides have a huge impact on who we are. And we should respect and honor them.

But what if they don't deserve honoring? What if they dishonor themselves? What if they just don't appreciate it. What if they don't instruct me in the lord and exasperate me on a daily basis? I haven't had the best of relationships with my parents. I have often felt like they don't understand me, or just plain don't like me. Until God gave me two interesting perspectives.

The first was that my parents were once kids like me too. And that they are people who have been hurt, and disappointed by other people. Just like I have been. But then I have to ask myself the question why do they not understand me, if they have been through what I've been through? Why are they always trying to restrict me? And it struck me that there could be a number of reasons. Maybe their worried that I'm too distracted, that i will struggle through life if they let me go too far out of hand. Maybe their afraid I will be hurt like them or get into trouble. Maybe they just want me home to annoy me and spend time with me. Maybe their afraid I will make the same mistakes they did.

The second was the perspective I received when God put me at the head of a rag tag group of boys as a bible study leader. At first i thought i wasn't ready and I could never ever handle it. Until a very close friend of mine convinced me otherwise. Saying that if i waited until i was ready I would be waiting forever.

When they came to me with issues I did not know what to do or how to handle it most of the time. i wished thee bible was a better manual for discipling. Then it struck me. I didn't come with a manual either. My parents were stuck with me and had to figure me out from day one too. And they chose not to abandon or return me. Which I am forever thankful for.

Five years down the line I find myself deeply connected to these guys. And more and more I realize the burden and the influence God has given me over each of their lives. I get scared for them when I see them making my same mistakes. I over react and get emotional when I talk to them about their futures and how they should take it seriously. At the same time I have hurt, and pushed some of them away. I have failed them when they needed me most. I have seen myself as a parent and i have failed a ton of times.

I wonder if my parents feel the same about me. I have seen them grow and become wonderful and pic men of God and I thank God he has given me the privilege of being a part of that process. I wonder if my parents feel that same way about me.

Somewhere between those first few awkward bible studies where we got to know each other, and the basketball games we improvise together now. God thought me to love these guys like brothers. And i caught a glimpse of what it's like to have to care and guide someone. To love someone and invest in someone. To be responsible for someone. I know it's nothing like actually being a parent. But i see why Paul saw imself as Timothy's spiritual Father.

This change of perspective made me see things from my parents point of view a lot clearer,they care about me, and sometimes their best intentions come out so passionately that they push me away. The same way mine do.

But there was something else. Something I learned when I had to decide if I was gonna pursue my studies abroad. Should I leave them? And my heart and my head both knew the answer had to be no. They were struggling with God and they needed Him, and I had to stand in the gap. That's when God showed me. Our parents fear leaving us. And we never know when they will and neither do they. So they try and prepare us for it, and to hold that love for us in check.

Albeit there are parents who don't fit this bill. The strange thing is that God has said that in those cases he will step in and be our father. Who will not ever forget us even if the mother who bore us does. The father to the fatherless. But his standard remains: Honor your parents-Not honor your parents if they deserve to be honored. And I know it's never easy and never perfect. But God is able to be the father, and set the example.

God loved all of us orphans.
So his son came to set us free.
To love and die and make us sons.
Of His own royal family.

How can I honor them?

Love them.
Be silent when I'm scolded, and talk about it later.
Honor them around others as well.
Not dishonoring myself or them.
Praying for them and obeying them.

Dedicated to Ammi and Thathi-Parents who are worthy of honor.

Ephesians 5:22-32 Til' Death

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Not because of anything they have done but simply because of what Christ has done for us.

Wives and Husbands,
Wives are asked to submit to their husbands, in such a way that reflects how the church submits to Christ, with Christ as the head.

But the calling for husbands is even deeper. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church.

Christ loved the church, not only being willing to die as a sacrifice for her salvation, but being willing to live for her, cleansing her though the word. Presenting her to himself as a radiant church. Without stain or wrinkle, but Holy and blameless. And Husbands are supposed to love their wives in the same way apparently... Contributing to their growth in Christ in ministering the word, stewards of their wives who submit to them. And just like Christ faithful even if their wife does not submit. Because thee dynamic of the relationship is that Christ holds on when the church wavers. Man that is a tough calling.

Love your wife as you love your own body. As you feed and provide for it. Just like Christ provides and gives gifts to the body of which we are a part of. For this reason a man will leave his parents and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh. And this is also symbolic of the Churches relationship with Christ. We share our bodies with our Lord. They come together to form one Holy temple of which Christ is the corner stone, and God lives by His spirit.

What surprises me about all this is that Paul uses marriage as an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church. And yeah he was teaching them lifestyle and family values. But that is a symbolism seen right through the bible. Bride Groom and bride, The harlot and her husband, Hosea and his wife. And as much as marriage has decayed and the institution has become more of a mockery and a joke God's standard remains. And it remains to an extent that he would use marriage as an illustration to show how much he loves and is in an unbreakable relationship with his people.

When can I apply this.
Later on in life.
Stop viewing the church as a broken thing with so many flaws, but the bride of Christ, loved and dear to him.

Ephesians 5:8-22 Light.

I have found that there is something to be found in what we have lost.
Something that  we can give to others who have lost the same.
Something beyond the cost paid or the path both have crossed.
Something shared, that helps repair and understand the pain.

We were once darkness but now we are light in the Lord, so we should live as children of the light. But what does it mean to be children of the light? the fruit of the light (Kinda like the fruit of the spirit I assume) consists all goodness, righteousness and truth.

We have the capability for amazing good by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. We just choose not to sometimes. I know those moments, split seconds that can last forever. Should I do it, or walk away, and you try to justify it. Sometimes I grit my teeth and do the right thing. Sometimes I smile and wave as they pass by. (high five if you got the pirates of the Jack Sparrow reference)

I guess that's why it's so important to find out what pleases the Lord. Because when we get to know God, and fall in love with Him. It gets harder and harder to not do what he has planned for us, not because we fear hell. But because we don't want to hurt the people we love.

When we expose the fruitless deeds of the darkness to the light, no matter how shameful they are. they become visible. And everything that is illuminated becomes light. (v14) Even our worst experiences when they are brought before the light of Christ, becomes light. To ourselves and others. The chains that bound us, become ropes to pull others out of darkness and into marvelous light. Christ loves the broken. Because he loves surprising his children with what they can do.

We should be careful to live wisely, and make the most of every opportunity. Not because we only live once, or because life should be lived to the fullest. But because the days are evil. Therefore we should not be foolish but rather understand what the lord's will is.

I have noticed that days where I'm lazy and don't take the opportunity to do the Good I should do are the days that i'm the most tempted or unproductive and distracted. I could Go for a worship service or meet up with a bro in Christ, but I decide not to. To stay home and chill. those are the days where it's the hardest to be filled with the Spirit. Those are the days I can't praise or encourage anyone. days i can't sing and make music in my heart for God.

How I can walk in the light.
I think the biggest change i can make is to take every opportunity for God.
And not be ashamed of the things I have dragged into the light, but now wait for god to use them to help others.

Ephesians 5:1-9 Blindsided

Sometimes Life seems to be getting better.
And then out of the blue.
From the place you least expect it.
You're hit by an issue and you just don't know how to react.

Blindsided you grasp for anything you can get your hands on,
and you try to handle the situation as best as you can.
But there is nothing you can do. Except let go and let God, do what he does best.

(v1-2)As dearly loved children walk in the way of love, our example is Christ who died out of love for us as an offering to please God. Christ did it all out of nothing but love. Love was his motive, love was his aim, and Love was his reward.

It is that love that lets us face any situation and know that whatever blind sides us we can stand firm because God has covered us in his amazing love.

It is because Christ's Love is so great that there can be no hint of sin in Gods holy people, but rather thankfulness. (v4) It doesn't mean that grace is not there, I guess it means that grace should not become an excuse to ignore the love of God.

It is a difficult thing to explain. We are saved, but because we are saved we want to become like our savior. Not out of duty but out of adoration and love. When I was a little kid I had no real friends for a very long time. When I finally made a friend, well he was different but he saved me from my loneliness. And though i didn't grasp it then I realize now how much I loved him and how much I worked to become more like him. I read up on science, and started doing things like model building, which I never was really into before.

He saved me, so I became like him out of love, rather than obedience. We become holy like God out of gratitude and love because of what he has already done for us. Anyone who doesn't love him enough to change for Him, doesn't have any part of the inheritance we have in Christ.(v3-5)

I know how harsh that is. I struggle to deal with that too. With all my own short comings I can't help but ask myself will I be saved? Because I can be immoral, I can be greedy and I can be impure and put God below other things in my life. And I deserve eternity without Him.

But since I came to know Christ. I wanna be like Him. And I have seen myself do things that were not of me. The ability to forgive, remain pure and fight temptation, and do these things not for an audience of people who will applaud me. But for an audience of the unseen God who sees all. Not for myself and any greedy motive, but for Him and His glory.

Let no one deceive you with empty words which cause God's wrath to fall on the disobedient. Therefore do not partner with them. Or rather be careful what you teach and what your fellow workers in Christ teach.

What do I take from this?
Turn to God and know regardless of the situation or what has happened that he can handle it.
Seek his righteousness out of love thanksgiving and adoration for Him.
Be careful what you teach and who you partner with in sharing the Gospel.

Ephesians 4:17-32 Putting on my Sunday best.

Father I thank you for the rain.
There is actually nothing in this world that I could find more beautiful than it.
I've been thinking a lot about how beautiful the rain is.
How as far as we know we're the only creation that appreciates beauty.

It makes me see why you put so much care and beauty and color and life into creation.
Life that shines through even though it's so obvious that it's broken and damaged.

I see a bit of myself in your creation. I see reflections. Beauty shining through brokenness.
Flowers blooming through garbage.

Paul tells us not to live in futile thinking and separate from God because our hearts are hardened and are not sensitive to His heart but rather indulge in every impurity, and long for all sorts of things but ignore God.

I think what Paul means by futility of thinking that hardens our hearts to God is the way we justify sin and entertain it. We dress it up with pride and justify it and we exalt ourselves above it and justify it some more until before we know it, we're knee deep in it. And we harden our heart to it and God.

Paul says that this is not the way of life we learned when we learned about Christ. We were thought to put our old corrupted deceitful attitudes in our minds off. But it just doesn't turn off like that. it lives and breathes in us and we have to fight it kicking and screaming, and sometimes just walk away from it but Paul says to just put on the new self that was created to be like God in true righteousness and Holiness...

But how? Paul makes it sound so simple and cut and dry.
Just put on righteousness and holiness, no it's not an act it's true righteousness and Holiness.

The thing is God knew how messy and messed up we were. Even better than we did so he made salvation work in-spite of our messed-up-ness, by simply having it rely on our faith. Doesn't it make sense that he'd make sanctification a similar process?

Paul says therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to our neighbor. is he talking about accountability? Confession of sins to one another. I think so because the next thing Paul says is in your anger do not sin, and don't stay angry for long because it can give Satan a foothold. Anyone who has ever been honest with someone, will know how angry their reactions can make you.

Paul says something interesting here. He says don't let your anger give Satan a foothold. And then gives and example. That if your sin is stealing, you must steal no longer, but rather do the opposite by working, and doing something useful with your hands to give those in need. Practically what Paul is saying is if you struggle in one way to sin, do the opposite. If you lie, tell the truth, if you are violent be gentle with people on purpose. It's practical in some ways I guess.

Paul also says not to let unwholesome talk to come out of our mouths, or rather don't say useless things that don't make people whole. But build people up according to their needs with our words. Rather when it comes to talking with people don't say unwholesome random things that don't benefit them,or gossip and bring down others, but seek to build them up with what they need to hear. The truth that sets people free, and benefits those who listen.

What's kinda sad here is that our role is to control our tongue and be close enough to God to speak the truth in love. But if they do not listen it's useless.

Paul's focus is us, that we be saved and have that assurance before we throw ourselves out there to save others. He tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God which is our seal, guaranteeing our salvation. Ensuring we see the day of redemption.

Considering that the Holy spirit lives in each of us and doesn't up and leave when we sin. We can see why Paul would tell us this. Bitterness, greed, anger, slander, malice all these emotions. Imagine what it must be like for the Holy Spirit living in each of us. It's easy to see how He would be grieved.

Paul ends by pulling back to the aspects of submission and loving one another. He tells us to be kind and compassionate, and forgiving just as Christ forgave us.

Where do I go from here?
I need to be accountable, and patient with those who I am accountable to.
I need to be more sensitive to grieving the Holy Spirit.
Whenever I minimize and justify things, I need to be careful that I am not being deceived and led astray.
Keep seeking how to turn off myself and put on Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16 Not free yet...

Moodiness....
Enough said.

If those who know the truth shall be set free(John 8:23). Then those who do not know the truth don't stand a chance. It strikes me that Jesus didn't say if you have heard the truth you are already free. But that the truth shall set us free eventually. And by the truth, he was talking about himself.

He was saying... when you know me. I will set you free.(John 14:6)

The Irony is that Paul was a free man in Christ, who was in prison for the sake of the Lord(v1). And he was urging the Ephesians and us too to live a life worthy of the calling we have in Jesus. By being completely humble and gentle, patient out of love for one another. All of this to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.

Paul laid down the foundation of good Christian community here. But so often, I am not worthy of the calling I have in Christ. So often we all fail and fall and don't wanna be a part of Christian community. We don't want to share in our small bible study groups or talk with our Christian friends, we don't want to go to church, or stick around to talk after. We don't want to meet up or be accountable. We shy away from our brothers and sisters in Christ.

But there is one body, one Spirit, and we have been called to one hope. Through our faith in the one God who is over, works through and is in all of the members of His body. So why is it that we struggle or shy away. Why is it that more and more people are gaining faith in God but losing confidence in his people?

Paul doesn't stop there either, he says that when Christ ascended he gave gifts and portions of grace to us his children, and to apostles, teachers, prophets evangelists and pastors equipping them, to equip us for works of service. Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.(v13)

In short... the church isn't perfect. But t's getting there. The same way Christ is working on and in us he's working on and in everyone. But our focus is Him and learning to serve the body of Christ 'aka' each other.

Paul says when this happens we as individuals will not be tossed back and forth and blown here and there by deceitful teaching and scheming that may make it all seem so confusing or 'kill it' for us. But rather our love for one another will speak, and we will speak the truth we hold dear, the truth of Christ on the cross crucified. We shall know the truth. And the truth shall set us free, as individuals and as His body.


We will grow and in every respect become like Christ, each one of us will do our part and support one another. As one we will grow and as one each of us will do the works of service we are supposed to. The church is not perfect, but he's working on it one son and one daughter at a time.

What do I take from this?
Let him work on me. Remember he is working on them. When it seems like there is something wrong search my own heart, and ask God to fill my heart with His love, that I could speak the truth, the truth that brings freedom.

Ephesians 3:14-21 Trust and Faith.

Building on yesterday, I wonder why I distrust placing my life solely in the hands of God.

And more and more I realize that what i truly fear losing is sovereignty. I can give up and obey in many other things. But to give up and surrender myself to Him. I can't even grasp what that means.

How can I be in love with someone and not trust them? How can I be following someone and yet... not.

How do we find faith? How do we die to ourselves? 

How do we live for Him, in Him?

^{Ephesians 3:14} For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

I love how Paul says that every family derives it's name from the father he bows to. Every family in heaven and on earth. It shows how one of the core values of God is family. And Paul's hope is that he may strengthen us through the holy spirit in our inner being so we could grasp that "Christ dwells in our hearts through faith."

I guess what Paul is trying to say is that we can only find that reckless abandon for Christ through his Holy Spirit. And that we being rooted and drawing strength from the love of Christ in us through the Holy Spirit. And established by that love. May grasp the vastness of the love of God in Christ Jesus. And grasp that we cannot grasp it because it surpasses all knowledge, and in knowing that be filled with the fullness of God.

He is able to more than we can ask or imagine within us.

Jimmy Needham-yours to take. "The son of man he came here to give life, and in return he's asking for mine.

What I can take.

I can love and trust God with my life because while I was still a sinner he loved me and gave his life for me.

But it's easier said than done. When the rubber hits the road... will I keep to the straight and narrow.

I guess I'll find out... 

Ephesians v21-to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.