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.

Ephesians 3:1-13 Disappointed.

Sometimes as a child of God I just have to blindly obey.
And most of the time, the outcome doesn't go my way.
And God hears about it. I make sure of it.

It's not that I don't know he's good.
I'm just disappointed because sometimes I feel let down.
I know that's only from my limited perspective and mood.
And he has been around the block and knows what he's doing.

But I guess that's why I'm human.

Abraham was told that he would be a blessing to the nations.
But he died far short of that vision that God gave him when he spoke of the sky and the sea shore.
Abraham was undoubtedly the father of faith,but I also feel he would have died just a little disappointed.

When Paul says " Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me" he was talking about God asking him to invite the Gentiles into the kingdom of God Helping them : "understand his insight into the mystery of Christ" . And though Christ died to make it possible, Paul made it happen. Abraham's faith was justified by Christ, but the promise was in part fulfilled by Paul. Paul proclaimed to the nations the blessing they received from God through Christ, that was promised to Abraham.

It strikes me how faithful God is. 
In spite of Paul's nature before his conversion God used him to save many, God used Paul to keep a promise to a man who had long before died. What a faithful God. 

The humility of Paul.
^Ephesians3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 

Paul considered himself a servant of the gospel. But he didn't see servant hood as a negative thing. on the contrary. He saw his ability to do this work as a demonstration of God's grace through the working of his mighty power in his own life. In other words, he saw everything he did as the work of God in his life. And he couldn't be more happy than to be a slave to God. 

Paul's reckless abandon attitude scares me. I have trusted God precious few times, and those times never turned out as I expected. often I felt worse for wear, but came out stronger. I suppose the same was true for Paul. But I could never give him the reigns completely it's too scary.

Part of me thinks i'm faking it. Part of me doubts it's real. Part of me thinks that if I trust him and put myself out there, things will fall through and he wont catch me. And part of me deep down is more afraid that he will, because if he catches me. Then it's over! I have to trust him, I have to say no to myself and my logic, and say yes to God. That part of me doesn't want to let go.

What God intended.
^{Ephesians3:10} His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, ¹¹ according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

God intends not only for us to declare the authority of Christ and the wisdom of God to people, but also to the authorities in the heavenly realm.This was part of His purpose and plan from the very beginning in sending Christ. It almost seems like God was proving a point through the church. And the point he was proving is this. That all who believe in Him may approach him in freedom and confidence.

In other words. These are my children and they belong to me. Come between me and them and you'll see what happens.

It's amazing the privileges we have as sons and daughters of God. But why don't we use it?

I resolve to...
Trust that he knows best.
Be a little more reverent when i talk to the creator of the universe.
Prayerfully submit to him, and remember if I trust him, really trust and believe that he is good,
Then I will obey him, regardless of the outcome.
Exploit the privileges I have as a son of God.

Ephesians 2:11-22 Man United

Some nights it doesn't pay to go to sleep, other days it doesn't pay to wake up.
Last night was nasty. Nightmares, back pain from bad posture.
And i just couldn't sleep.

You wake up angry at the world.
Scared about all the things you have to face.
But it's such an overcast beautiful day.
And it's a Saturday, I love Saturdays.

It strikes me how mishaps, steal our joy,
And that is something God never intended for us.
It reminds me that there is evil and darkness out there,
And that our battle is against spiritual forces.

We feel our Joy is stolen because it was,
We feel discontent because this was never intended for us.
It is only through the power of Christ exerted in us, that we can find victory.
Only in Christ can we battle the unseen, Only in Christ are we truly free..

^{Ephesians2:11} Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—¹² remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

I've seen Paul deal with the Jewish custom of circumcision, which was a symbol of submission to God in a lot of His letters. Paul seems to kinda want to remind the Gentiles that there was a time when they were separate from Christ, without hope and without God. But that in Christ, they have been given that Hope in God through the sacrifice of Christ.

It kind of seems to me like Paul was sticking the lives the Gentiles lived in their face. Saying you would not be here if not for Christ, you would have no God, have no hope... But as one who did not know God myself,  I can't blame Paul. I need to be reminded sometimes that I have been called out of darkness, by no other than the son of God.

^{Ephesians2:14} For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 

Jesus has a way of reconciling people like no one else can... simply because he died for us all. And in Him we all have access to God. He really is our peace. I guess Paul was dealing with an issue in the church, where there was hostility between the Jews who were circumcised and came to know Christ, and the Gentiles who were uncircumcised and came to know Christ.

I notice Paul is holding onto this idea, that we have all come to know Christ and are "one new Humanity" in Christ. A new race, a new people, a part of God's kingdom. I love the feeling of peace and hope that comes with that though. If Christ has united us what possible reason can there be for division among us?

And yet we see it everywhere and even in our churches, we don't spend time with people from other back grounds, from other classes. They label us or we label them for their doctrine, or some of the decisions or stands they take. We Gossip about their mistakes. We judge them and condemn them without even realizing it. We treat those who are united with us in Christ as objects of slander, and in doing so we demean and cheapen the sacrifice of Christ. I know this because I have been disciplined by God for doing just these things.

Maybe that's why Paul talked about how the gentiles were saved from hopelessness and brought into such a great hope. To remind us that we were all lost without Christ, and have been brought into such a great salvation that can only bring better things and unite us by Christ.

v16 And in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

It always comes back to the cross. In one body, in one action of sacrifice Jesus bore the wrath of God. What I find amazing is that Paul says he put to death not only sin but the hostility between those who know and do not know God. And God himself came and preached peace, he himself came and paid the paid the price for it. He himself came and gave his life for it.

In an MCR song I like (NANANANA) Gerard way sings, "everybody wants to change the world, but no one wants to die." And he's right we all have a knowledge deep inside us that there is something wrong in the world and we wanna change it, we wanna reconcile it. But none of us is willing to pay the ultimate price for it. Jesus was the only exception.

And through Him we all have access to God by the one Holy Spirit. We're no longer foreigners and strangers to God, but we have become foreigners and strangers to the world. Paul says we are members of his household.

His household, and I remember Jesus says in the Gospel that we are no longer servants but friends. Brother and sisters. Being a friend and member of the family of God.

That kinda makes us princes and princesses... WOW!

Built on the foundation laid by our elders, pastors and leaders. Whose foundations can be traced back to the apostles and prophets and Christ. We share in a royal legacy. In him we are built up together and rise to become a holy temple in God, where God lives by his spirit. Sometimes Paul knows just what to say.

How do I fit in?
I think how i can try and live this is pretty simple. I have to let God show me where I am not fitting into the body by judging people, and alienating myself from them. And let him work and change my heart and mind so I can be transformed by his love, and learn to love them.

In
Christ Jesus,
we
are
all
made
Into one church.
One royal priesthood, brothers,
Sisters, neighbours, and relations.
One Kingdom in God's own Holy Nation.
One in His kingdom, united in freedom.
Citizens of heaven strangers and innocents.
On the foundation of the prophets and priests.
United in he who died to ensure death deceased.
Held by the rock of ages and the king of creation.
The only one and no other, the citizens call father.
Cleaned by blood, fed by the Spirit of God.
To return home is our long awaited reward.
One in the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.
The church is not a building, if you know him,
You're already in it, and in it we rise on the ones who have gone.
The apostles the prophets and their legacy lives on.
Through the saints the martyrs and us.
Held by the corner stone,
The rock of ages.
Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-10 I was saved for their good?

It's one of those rainy days here. And there's thunder and wind on the other side of the curtain.
And I just finished a rain run and am cuddled up in bed with a cup of ginger lime tea.
I can hear the chorus of rain on leaves and the sand.
I'm expecting to hear your voice sing, with your word in my hand.

Kinda looking forward to spending time with you today actually.

Here goes.

Eph:2:1-2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. You followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit at work in those who are disobedient.

So there was a time when we were dead in our sins, and followed the way of this world and unwittingly were  under the rule of the spirit working in the disobedient. But the thing is I still am drawn and sometimes give into those things. I still follow a lot of the systems of the world that distract and demean me, and i feel every time i have something i should do with God the pull to do something else. I often feel the reality of God through the reality of evil in this world.

Selling the lie.
More and more I think Satan's strategy is not to convince the world that God doesn't exist, but that he himself doesn't. That way people will hate themselves and not see their tempter and blame God for the fallen nature of the world, rather than the destroyer of man. He's really ingenious if you think about it. Why tell people there is no God when you can tell them there is and he's awful. Why get them to ignore God, when you can get them to hate him. Why convince them they are tempted by Satan, when you can convince them this is who they are and what they need to be happy.

When I say it like that, i feel like i should feel more guilty. Thinking of all the times I have gone back, and all the times I entertain temptation. If salvation wasn't free. I would not stand a chance.

v3- It's understandable that we were objects of wrath to God living among others like us. Entertaining the thoughts and desires that went with the lifestyle. But does that mean we've been separated from them now that we have been made alive with Christ through the mighty work of God and his resurrection power in us? Saved by grace as a son of God by the son of God with the son of God in the resurrection.

Well we still live with the people we live with, but i guess in God's eyes we are separate from them in that we have received himself into our hearts.

v8- And he did all this so he could in the coming age he could show us the immeasurable treasure of His grace given to us through Christ Jesus.

v8-10
Saved by grace and faith, not by works.
So that no man may boast.
God's workmanship in Christ Jesus,
Made to give our utmost.

We are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, that god prepared for us to do in advance. So when God saves us, we are kinda re-made in Christ Jesus, and we're re-made to fit in the role we were made to fit into in the first place i guess. The role God had in mind from the beginning. I find it Kinda cool, but also kinda sad... one cause I have very little idea of what my purpose is in Christ, apart from spending time with him and trying to help people and my friends as best as I can...

What was I made for?
I guess what I can take away from this, is that God saved His creation which He made to do the good works He prepared for it in advance to do. I being it need to keep my eyes and my heart open to that purpose, and find my place in his kingdom. Find my place in serving His people here on earth, until I go to be with Him. Easier said than done... But I'll give it a shot.

Ephesians 1:15-22 The core solution.

Gosh I feel lazy today, the sun is out and it's so unbelievably hot.
I would love to go for a run though, or maybe practice the guitar a bit.
Or play with my new effects pedal, or watch an episode of Big Bang Theory.

I hate to admit it, but it seems that you're pretty low on my list of priorities.
And the temptation to ignore you, and let myself be distracted is still a little heavier than my love for you.
But yeah I'll try and focus for a while and spend this time with you.

A note on Paul.
Paul was one of those annoyingly focused and committed guys. I love his boldness and am always challenged by his devotion in trials, but sometimes he also annoys me a little bit. Unshakable  unwavering and steadfast. I'm kinda glad i'm not Paul's disciple, we would have been at each others' throats half the time. Him pushing for my submission to Christ, me pushing and fighting for freedom...
I can just imagine it.

N-Paul you said all things are permissible.
P-Well I also said not all things are beneficial.
N-That's not fair! You're implementing rules just like the pharisees did!
P-Would you rather i stand by silent and let you treat the blood of Christ as a cheap thing?
N-Whatever...
P- I gave you an option, therefore the correct syntax would be whichever. I'll come back with Timothy tomorrow to talk some sense to you.

But the more of the epistles I read the more I see that he did all this out of love for God, and that love for God translated into love and passion to see God's children grow. You see how his love for God translates into his love for the church in every sentence of his letters to them.

^{Paul's Prayerful Passion.
15} For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, ¹⁶ I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
¹⁷ I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Paul heard that the Ephesian church was doing well, and he desired that God would give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, not that they would be encouraged, or have knowledge of the future or anything like that, but simply so that they could know God better. A couple of things challenge and strike me about Paul here. Firstly his passion for intercession. Paul had heard of the things happening in Ephesus and of their faith and love and his reaction was to pray for them and thank God for them. And Paul's greatest hope was that the eyes of their heart would be opened to the hope they have in Christ and that they would know God more through the revelation of the spirit.
As I write this my heart thinks of the people i care about. The guys i do bible studies for. I should be praying for them more, but more than anything. I realize that often, I'm the one trying to solve their problems. Praying and giving them advice. When really that isn't my place at all. My place is the same as that of Paul. To pray for them and guide them to the one who holds their future and knows his plans for them in His hands. So they would know Him. Me holding on to that role seems almost like me not trusting God to be who he is, and in a strange way doubting him.

¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

Our inheritance is not just God but is literally in his holy people. Our inheritance is a part of the body of Christ. Not just salvation, but purpose. Not just conviction, but action and interaction. And to top it off we are filled with power of God, which is the same power that God exerted when he resurrected Christ from the dead, the same power that has given Christ authority over all things, the same power that the Holy Spirit has inside us.
It strikes me that if that power in us through the holy spirit has the power to raise the dead, then it is the same power God used to make us new creations in Christ. That resurrection power is what gives us hope in any situation. That resurrection power is what gives us... well resurrection. Death to the old way of life and a new life in Christ.

More than anything I think Paul got this down. That's why he fought for transformation in his own life and the lives of others. That's why he could pray so passionately for the people in Ephesus. Because he knew thee potential each of us carries simply because we embrace Christ and the Holy Spirit embraces us.

Where do I go from here.
If I can learn just one thing from this portion of scripture. It's not to bear the burden for others. But to bear Christ. Not to try and solve the problem for them, but to surrender the solution to them.

To bear the cross, which bears thy name.
To count your grave, as where I was lain.
To walk across this earth for your fame.
And lead those being saved, to the one slain, that they would remain.

Ephesians 1:1-14 The Deposit...

There is a strange stillness in the first rain in months.
But a familiar smell of earth disturbed by wind and water.
And a familiar feeling of nostalgia from the monsoons broken before.
A reminder that no matter how strong the storm we are still here.
Water and wind have a way of cleaning things deeper than skin.
Maybe that's why Jesus describes the Spirit using water and wind.

Ephesians 1:1-14

Eph 1:3- We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Eph 1:4- We have been chosen to be Holy and blameless in his sight.
(If we have been chosen to be Holy and blameless in his sight, then why is holiness such a difficult thing to achieve. Going through a day or an hour without sin is hard enough, but holiness, and to hate sin to the point where it is second nature to avoid it seems impossible... But when it says to be Holy and blameless in his sight, i can't help but wonder if it means he sees us through Christ and sees those who believe in Christ through the sacrifice that he alone could give, and we are exchanged as Christ took the wrath of God, we took the place as sons and daughters of Christ. It seems almost too good to be true. A divine switcheroo, he takes our place on the gallows, and we take his place in God's family. Grace is so difficult to accept as a sinner sometimes, simply because we feel we have to earn it. But God gives freely out of abundance... I guess that's just who he is.)

In Love...
Eph 1:4-5 In love he pre-destined us to be adopted as sons and daughters through Christ Jesus. This was his pleasure and will.
(I love how it says in Love it's almost like we are objects of God's infatuation, objects of love... I wish I could understand how Paul a man who suffered all his life after coming to know Christ for the sake of the Gospel could view himself as loved by God, i guess his relationship with God was close enough that even in the situations he faced he was in contact with Christ)

In Him We have:
Redemption-v7 We have been bought back by God from the kingdom of Satan and had our sins forgiven through the blood of Christ.
Wisdom and Understanding-v8
Knowledge of the mystery of his will-v9-10 This was Christ's purpose, to bring all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Been Chosen-v11 for the praise of His Glory.
Been marked with the Spirit.- God's deposit(Investment) in us. Until the redemption of those who are God's possession. (I love how God literally invests himself in us... It's like the Holy Spirit comes to us with the sole intent of guiding us home to heaven, its such a wonderful assuarance. But I have asked myself over and over whether or not the spirit of God lives in me... I guess in moments like that I just have to trust 1 Cor12:3, that no one can confess Jesus Christ as lord except by the spirit of God.)

(I also find it so cool that the Spirit helps us understand and accept Christ as our personal savior, at the same time Christ helps us know what God the father is like, and God the father sends us the Holy Spirit to guide us to home to Him.)

So what do I do with that?
I think all of this points us to Him and is a reminder of why we are so blessed to know Christ,
Chosen for redemption and to know Christ is a blessing that should not be taken for granted.
I think God is pushing me through this to seek the spirit and look deeper into what He is working on or wants me to focus on, as the deposit guaranteeing my salvation i'm pretty sure he must be working on something, it's probably just that my ears and my heart are a bit numb to Him still to notice.