Devotions

An Example to All Those Who Believe

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Fellow Workers for the Kingdom of God

Colossians 4:7–17

Remember My Imprisonment

Colossians 4:18

An Example to All Those Who Believe

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

Approved by God to be Entrusted with the Gospel

1 Thessalonians 2:1–12

You Received the Word From as the Word of God

1 Thessalonians 2:13–16

We Were Eager With Great Desire to See Your Face

1 Thessalonians 2:17–20

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Colossians 4:7-18
  • 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20
Luke 5:29–32
And Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining for the meal with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes began to complain to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
Devotions

Speak the Mystery of Christ

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There are many “religious” acts, that are done in the name of God. This “religion” is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as any kind of “A cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith” and Paul describes these as “human commandments and teachings in Colossians 2:22 that have an “appearance of wisdom” but they in Colossians 2:23 “do not have any value against the indulgence of the flesh”. These things Paul says in Colossians 2:17 “are a shadow of what is to come, but the reality is Christ” so Paul goes on to say, in Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God”. There is a world that needs to know the love of God and we that know “the reality is Christ” are to “speak the mystery of Christ” in Colossians 4:3 and in Colossians 4:5–6 “Live with wisdom toward those outside, making the most of the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one”.

In Him All the Fullness of Deity Dwells Bodily

Colossians 2:6–15

An Appearance of Wisdom in Self-Made Religion

Colossians 2:16–23

What does it mean to be religious? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is:

  • The service and worship of God or the supernatural
  • Commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
  • A personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
  • A cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith

It is only the first of these that even mentions God and as it does, it includes God as if He were the same as anything else supernatural we might think about.

It is this kind of association of “the service and worship of God” with a cause, a commitment, attitudes, and beliefs which can all represent any kind of thinking or behavior that is the heart of the word “religion”. Paul list some of these “religious” ideas, these man-made rules about what to eat or how to eat it or what to drink or not to drink or a feast or other special days that are somehow more holy than others in

Colossians 2:16 (LEB) “Therefore do not let anyone judge you with reference to eating or drinking or participation in a feast or a new moon or a Sabbath”

Of these things Paul says, they are a shadow in

Colossians 2:17 (LEB) “which are a shadow of what is to come, but the reality is Christ”

If those religious behaviors and acts are only a shadow and “the reality is Christ”, then what does true religion, “the reality”, “Christ” look like? It is none of these things and Paul cautions saying in

Colossians 2:18 (LEB) “Let no one condemn you, taking pleasure in humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about the things which he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind”

These “human commandments and teachings in Colossians 2:22 seem like wisdom, but have no value, no ability to help us with the real problem in life, our flesh as Paul says in

Colossians 2:23 (LEB) “which things although they have, to be sure, an appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and humility and unsparing treatment of the body, do not have any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Christ is Seated at the Right Hand of God

Colossians 3:1–4

Christ is Seated at the Right Hand of God

Colossians 3:1–4

Put On the New Man

Colossians 3:5–11

Let the Word of Christ Dwell in You Richly

Colossians 3:12–17

How is it that we become the people that God desires us to be? Do we know what those people look like? Jesus made it clear that it wasn’t the wealth of the world when he answered the rich young ruler in

Matthew 19:21 (LEB) ‘Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the proceeds to the poor—and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me.” ’

but it also wasn’t that we were to vow poverty and have nothing we need for life because he commended the Samaritan who cared and paid the bill for a stranger in

Luke 10:35 (LEB) ‘And on the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him, and whatever you spend in addition, I will repay to you when I return” ’

So what is it that makes us the people God wants us to be? It isn’t just one thing and try as they might, the Jews could not fulfill the law and here Paul give us a good starting point in

Colossians 3:16 (LEB) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom, with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God”

It is good for us to read what Jesus said and live by His words which have the power to change us. Paul doesn’t stop with us reading and pondering the words of Christ, he also says that we are to “put on” these behaviors which are very much the fruit of the Holy Spirit who is our teacher and comforter and advocate in

Colossians 3:12 (LEB) “Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, put on affection, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience”

We might convince ourselves that we have these attributes operating in us in abundance but then Paul says in

Colossians 3:13 (LEB) “putting up with one another and forgiving one another. If anyone should have a complaint against anyone, just as also the Lord forgave you, thus also you do the same”

This is the true test of our Christianity, can we “put up with”, can we “forgive” and still move forward with the plan and purpose God has for us and for our congregation? There is a bond that is necessary to hold us together and that is love, not the Hallmark pretty words kind, but the God kind that proves itself with thankless action that doesn’t grumble but remains thankful to the Lord in

Colossians 3:14–15 (LEB) “And to all these things add love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And the peace of Christ must rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful”

From the Lord You Will Receive the Reward

Colossians 3:18–4:1

Speak the Mystery of Christ

Colossians 4:2–6

We that believe the gospel of Jesus Christ have a great gift, our eternal salvation, our future home and place with Him in heaven. There is a world of people around us that don’t yet know the love of God so Paul encourages them in

Colossians 4:5–6 (LEB) “Live with wisdom toward those outside, making the most of the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how it is necessary for you to answer each one”.

It is right for us to consider our ways, our thoughts, and learn as we can, how best to approach those around us. It is also right though, that we don’t know who is ready and when they will receive so Paul also encourages them in

Colossians 4:2–4 (LEB) Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving, 3 praying at the same time for us also, that God may open for us a door of the message, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which also I am a prisoner, 4 so that I may reveal it, as it is necessary for me to speak”.

There are those that will listen to us and there are those that will hear through another, it is for us to pray always for laborers in God’s harvest field for our generation and “that God may open for us a door”.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Colossians 2:6-23
  • Colossians 3:1-18
  • Colossians 4:1-6
Luke 5:4–11
And when he stopped speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered and said, “Master, although we worked hard through the whole night, we caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they did this, they caught a very large number of fish, and their nets began to tear. And they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink. And when he saw it, Simon Peter fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man!” For amazement had seized him and all those who were with him at the catch of fish that they had caught, and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were business partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid! From now on you will be catching people!” And after they brought their boats to the land, they left everything and followed him.
Devotions

The Firstborn Over All Creation

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Jesus Christ is “the firstborn over all creation” in Colossians 1:15 and in the beginning, in Genesis 1:31–2:1 “And God saw everything that he had made and, behold, it was very good”. But sin entered in and the world changed. So, Jesus Christ came bringing us the gospel good news in Colossians 1:19–20 (LEB) “because he was well pleased for all the fullness to dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven”. When Jesus Christ came, the power of God opened for us thy way to be Colossians 1:13 “who has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves”.

The Hope Reserved for You in Heaven

Colossians 1:1–8

The message of the gospel is received and produces love in those that believe in

Colossians 1:4 (LEB) “since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints”

This message of “the word of truth, the gospel” in Colossians 1:5b describes “the grace of God in truth” in Colossians 1:6b and it comes to us through the mouth, by the preaching and teaching of another person, a believer, just as it did for them in

Colossians 1:7 (LEB) “just as you learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf”

This message of the gospel invites us to “faith in Christ Jesus” in Colossians 1:4 and if we accept, it produces hope in us because it assures of a place in heaven in

Colossians 1:5 (LEB) “because of the hope reserved for you in heaven, which you have heard about beforehand in the word of truth, the gospel”

And, even though there are those that refuse, this gospel that has come is producing sons and daughters of God in

Colossians 1:6 (LEB) “that has come to you, just as also in all the world it is bearing fruit and increasing, just as also among you from the day you heard about and understood the grace of God in truth”

Live in a Manner Worthy of the Lord

Colossians 1:9–14

We once were in darkness, unaware of the goodness of God but then Jesus Christ came and the gospel was presented to us in

2 Corinthians 4:6 (LEB) ‘For God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” is the one who has shined in our hearts for the enlightenment of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ”.

From that beginning, our “enlightenment”, the revelation of the work of Jesus Christ that reconciles us to God, from that beginning now Paul prays for them to have full knowledge of God’s plans and purposes and our part which includes God’s perfect will for our lives in

Colossians 1:9–11 (LEB) “Because of this also we, from the day we heard about it, did not cease praying for you, and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual insight, 10 so that you may live in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good deed and increasing in the knowledge of God”

In God’s plan, he has transferred us into his kingdom in

Colossians 1:13 “who has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves”

He has also empowered us to be fruitful in that kingdom by giving us his Holy Spirit and in

Colossians 1:11 “enabled with all power, according to his glorious might, for all steadfastness and patience with joy”.

The Firstborn Over All Creation

Colossians 1:15–23

When we were born into this world, we were alienated from God and because this world is our first context and our experience, many think that this world is the way God created it to be. But in our time, in this age, that isn’t true. In the beginning, it was the way he wanted it in

Genesis 1:31–2:1 “And God saw everything that he had made and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day. 2:1 And heaven and earth and all their array were finished.”

and in the beginning, Jesus Christ was there as “the firstborn over all creation” in Colossians 1:15 and was instrumental in the creation and the very existence of creation in

Colossians 1:16–17 (LEB) “because all things in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him, 17 and he himself is before all things, and in him all things are held together”

But sin entered in. The curse entered in

Genesis 3:14–15 (LEB) “Then Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you will be cursed more than any domesticated animal and more than any wild animal. On your belly you shall go and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 And I will put hostility between you and between the woman, and between your offspring and between her offspring; he will strike you on the head, and you will strike him on the heel.”

From this action, the serpent became the god of this world and “The serpent is a divine enemy of God … this text contains a prophecy indicating that animosity and spiritual war will ensue between the serpent (nachash in Hebrew) and humanity … In the nt, the offspring of the devil are equated with evildoers who oppose God’s will and the Messiah, Jesus (Rev 12:9; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8, 12, 23)”1. Because of this curse, this world as we know it has sickness and disease and death and biting and devouring and will continue to have until Jesus returns. This is the work Jesus came to do, free us from the curse, the dominion of the serpent, the devil and reconcile us to God in

Colossians 1:19–20 (LEB) “because he was well pleased for all the fullness to dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven”.

The Glorious Wealth of This Mystery

Colossians 1:24–29

The Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge

Colossians 2:1–5

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Colossians 1:1-29
  • Colossians 2:1-5

References

  • 1. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ge 3:15). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Mark 1:29–34
And so then he departed from the synagogue and came into the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down, suffering with a fever, and at once they told him about her. And he came and raised her up by taking hold of her hand, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. Now when it was evening, when the sun had set, they began bringing to him all those who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole town was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases and expelled many demons. And he did not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Devotions

Worship by the Spirit of God

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Paul had been among the most religious of his day in Philippians 3:5–6 (LEB) “a Hebrew born from Hebrews … according to the righteousness in the law being blameless” and then he had an encounter with Jesus Christ and none of his religious piety mattered and in fact, he says in Philippians 3:8 (LEB) More than that, I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them dung, in order that I may gain Christ”. There is now for Paul, a true relationship with God that is our spirit to his in Philippians 3:3 (LEB) “For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and do not put confidence in the flesh”. Now Paul says in Philippians 3:14 (LEB) “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. But this “upward call of God in Christ Jesus” is bigger than any of us can handle on our own and we need people that will be “fellow worker and fellow soldier” in Philippians 2:25. Of these people that take up the work of God’s kingdom, Paul says in Philippians 2:29b “consider such people highly honored”.

Sincerely Concerned About Your Circumstances

Philippians 2:19–24

Consider Such People Highly Honored

Philippians 2:25–30

Paul was not alone in the work of the ministry and he commends his fellow worker here. It is clear that even with his help, there was more to be done than they could accomplish and it nearly broke this man in

Philippians 2:30 (LEB) “because on account of the work of Christ he came near to the point of death, risking his life in order that he might make up for your inability to serve me.”

Paul isn’t complaining about “your inability to serve me” he is just giving them an account of the situation and it has always been this way. There are more needs than any one person can meet. Even Jesus felt the press of the people in

Matthew 9:36–38 (LEB) ‘And when he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were weary and dejected, like sheep that did not have a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest that he send out workers into his harvest.” ’

What Paul is saying here is that this man answered and went to work as a “fellow worker and fellow soldier” in Philippians 2:25, and because of that, they should honor him in

Philippians 2:29 (LEB) “Therefore welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and consider such people highly honored”.

Worship by the Spirit of God

Philippians 3:1–4

There are many that that say and do things in the name of God but they are described here as “evil workers” in

Philippians 3:2 (LEB) “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the mutilation”.

This is pretty harsh talk and in our modern politically correct culture this doesn’t fit the religious box that only includes grace and peace and gentleness and kindness and ignores the rebellious who are against God and the things of God. Jesus said three times, “woe to you” as he described these people in

Matthew 23:25–33 (LEB) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites!—because you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! …”

But Paul only intends a warning and then describes who we are as believers. It is not circumcision in the flesh, but circumcision of the heart that matters in

Philippians 3:3 (LEB) “For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and do not put confidence in the flesh”.

I Press on Toward the Goal for the Prize

Philippians 3:5–14

Paul had been raised in the thick of the Jewish Law and followed its mandates religiously, “according to the righteousness of the law being blameless” in Philippians 3:6. And then he had an encounter with Jesus Christ which he recounts in Acts 26:13–19 and as a result of this encounter, Paul came into “the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord” and suddenly, Paul understood that all of his past efforts were as “dung”, useless before God in

Philippians 3:8–9 (LEB) More than that, I even consider all things to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for the sake of whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and consider them dung, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and may be found in him, not having my righteousness which is from the law, but which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith”.

Now Paul says, there is a new standard, new goals and he says in

Philippians 3:14 (LEB) “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Our Commonwealth Exists in Heaven

Philippians 3:15–21

Rejoice in the Lord Always

Philippians 4:1–9

My God Will Fulfill Your Every Need

Philippians 4:10–20

All the Saints Greet You

Philippians 4:21–23

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Philippians 2:19-30
  • Philippians 3:1-21
  • Philippians 4:1-23
Mark 1:9–11
And it happened that in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. And immediately as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens being split apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Devotions

For Me To Live Is Christ

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Paul sets the future, our hope of eternal life before them and then reminds them that God’s priority is that all would be saved. What then will we choose? As Paul says in Philippians 1:23-24 (LEB) “But I am hard pressed between the two options, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, for this is very much better. 24 But to stay on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” It is better for Paul to end this life and be with the Lord in heaven (No, there is no purgatory or place to work out your salvation after the end of this physical life because it says in 2 Corinthians 5:8 “so we are confident and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord”). Paul is choosing to delay his hope and to give himself in this mortal life as a witness to the world as in Philippians 2:15b–16a “blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as stars in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life”. What is the priority of your life? Paul understood the wisdom of God in Proverbs 11:30 (LEB) “The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, and he who captures souls is wise”. Can you tell one more person about the love of God for them?

The Progress of the Gospel

Philippians 1:12–18

For Me To Live Is Christ

Philippians 1:19–26

We that have believed in Jesus Christ have a wonderful future and hope of eternal life with God in heaven and because of this we no longer fear the death of our physical bodies. Paul says it this way in

Philippians 1:23 (LEB) “But I am hard pressed between the two options, having the desire to depart and to be with Christ, for this is very much better.

Yet, God has made us with a great desire to live and we grieve when a life is cut short, particularly for those that have never accepted Christ and have only eternal torment ahead because there is a hell, a place reserved for the unbelieving, and because of this, Paul also says in

Philippians 1:24 (LEB) “But to stay on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”

Paul has, as do we all as believers, this commission to delay our entry to heaven for the hope of some fruitful work in our generation in

Philippians 1:21–22 (LEB) “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if it is to live in the flesh, this is fruitful work for me, and which I will prefer I do not know.”

Lead Lives Worthy of the Gospel of Christ

Philippians 1:27–30

United in Spirit, Having One Purpose

Philippians 2:1–4

There are many that understand their personal relationship with God and enjoy the peace and joy that comes with the presence of God as it says in

Psalm 16:11 (LEB) “You will make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forever.

There is though, a deeper relationship that comes as we unite together with others in Christ. Jesus said in

John 13:35 (LEB) “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.”

We find this deeper relationship has developed in the early church together as they were “with one purpose” and the power of God was evident to all around them in

Acts 2:46–47 (LEB) “And every day, devoting themselves to meeting with one purpose in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved”.

Now, Paul sets this standard before them, “having one purpose” in

Philippians 2:1–2 (LEB) “Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 complete my joy, so that you are in agreement, having the same love, united in spirit, having one purpose.”

He Humbled Himself

Philippians 2:5–11

The One at Work in You is God

Philippians 2:12–18

It is good for us to have a teacher, a mentor, as Paul had been to these people, but our teachers aren’t able to live our life for us. There is a time where we become accountable for our own actions and we will each stand before Jesus Christ as it says in

2 Corinthians 5:10 (LEB) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, in order that each one may receive back the things through the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

While we all live by the grace of God and our soul is saved by that grace so we have eternal life, there is also a reward for faithfulness to Gods kingdom as we live this life as in

1 Corinthians 3:13 (LEB) “the work of each one will become evident. For the day will reveal it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the work of each one, of what sort it is”.

Paul makes this point that while we are “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” and this is a challenge to us, there are choices for us to make about how we will live. God’s perfect will for us is that we are to “become blameless” and “shine as stars in the world” in

Philippians 2:14–16a (LEB) “Do all things without grumbling and disputing, 15 in order that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as stars in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life”.

and we are willing to do this because we have chosen him and we are able to do it because the power of God is working in us in

Philippians 2:13 (LEB) “For the one at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure, is God.”

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Philippians 1:12-30
  • Philippians 2:1-18
2 Peter 1:16–18
For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by following ingeniously concocted myths, but by being eyewitnesses of that one’s majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice such as this was brought to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we ourselves heard this voice brought from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
Devotions

The One Who Began a Good Work Will Finish It

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God is doing a work in those of us that have believed the gospel of Jesus Christ and he will finish it as it says in Philippians 1:6 (LEB) “convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it until the day of Christ Jesus”. And just as Jesus set aside his own will and was obedient to the will of the Father in Matthew 26:39 (LEB) ‘And going forward a little he fell down on his face, praying and saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ’, we also sometimes struggle. But this struggle is not just against our flesh, it is also a spiritual battle against the devil and his kingdom and for us to overcome, we must “become strong in the Lord”, as Paul says, in Ephesians 6:10–12 (LEB) “Finally, become strong in the Lord and in the might of his strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, 12 because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”. The good work the Lord is doing in us is this maturity that overcomes in the world.

Understand What the Will of the Lord Is

Ephesians 5:17–24

Cleansing Her With the Washing of Water by the Word

Ephesians 5:25–33

Just as God through Jesus Christ prepared a covenant for us where he purchased our lives by paying the price for our sin, we as husbands are to give ourselves for our wives which then creates the environment where we can raise godly children. But God didn’t stop with forgiveness of sin, he also sent the Holy Spirit as an advocate in

John 14:26 (LEB) “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name—that one will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything that I said to you.”

And the Holy Spirit is to bring us into the fulness of our relationship which happens through love with “cleansing” that happens “by the word” in

Ephesians 5:25–26 (LEB) “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her; 26 in order that he might sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word”

There is a weight to this relationship for the husband as provider as the priest of the home and just as there was a moment for Jesus in the garden where he had to choose love even though it cost him his life, he did the will of the Father in

Matthew 26:39 (LEB) ‘And going forward a little he fell down on his face, praying and saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” ’

So also, as husbands, there are moments when we must choose love and sometimes at the cost of denying our own will to do what is needed for our wife and family.

Just as Jesus set his faith on what would become the church, he set his mind on the future that would be accomplished by His obedience to the will of the Father and ignored the circumstance of the moment, so we as husbands must look to Jesus as he is perfecting not only us, but those that we love as we see who God is making us to be in

Hebrews 12:2 (LEB) “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.

Doing the Will of God From the Heart

Ephesians 6:1–9

Our Struggle is Not Against Blood and Flesh

Ephesians 6:10–20

Our lives are spent dealing with the natural world around us. We work and rest and eat and relate to people around us and it is easy for us to focus only on these natural, worldly interactions. Paul has told them how to conduct themselves and much of that relates to learning God’s ways and developing godly discipline as in

Ephesians 4:31–32 (LEB) “All bitterness, and rage, and wrath, and clamor, and abusive speech, must be removed from you, together with all wickedness. 32 Become kind toward one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as also God in Christ has forgiven you.”

Now though, Paul opens the door to the realm of the spirit and exposes the forces that are driving much of human behavior. He has already told them to fix their eyes on Jesus in

Hebrews 12:1b–2a (LEB) “putting aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, let us run with patient endurance the race that has been set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith”

and now Paul adds this, “become strong in the Lord” in Ephesians 6:10. We are to learn about and put on the spiritual weapons that are necessary and effective in overcoming any attack of our enemy who is actively working against us in

Ephesians 6:10–12 (LEB) “Finally, become strong in the Lord and in the might of his strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, 12 because our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”.

We should develop the fruit of the spirit in our lives, but there is more to our Christian life than the natural kindness and goodness and gentleness the religious world calls spirituality. Paul goes on to describe this mature and equipped Christian as “praying”, “in the Spirit”, “alert with all perseverance” in Ephesians 6:18 and adds his own personal request for “boldness” in

Ephesians 6:19 (LEB) “and for me, that a word may be given to me at the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel”

That You May Know Our Circumstances

Ephesians 6:21–24

The One Who Began a Good Work Will Finish It

Philippians 1:1–8

Paul opens this letter to the church in Philippi writing not to the church building address where they meet or to the Pastor of the Church as we might today, instead he identifies himself and Timothy as servants of Christ and then writes to all of the “saints in Christ” in

Philippians 1:1 (LEB) Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons.

Paul has identified leadership roles in the church that are for the purpose of “building up the body of Christ” in

Ephesians 4:11–13 (LEB) “And he himself gave some as apostles and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers 12 for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to a measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ,

Here though, Paul’s emphasis is clearly on “the saints” first “together with” these leaders and the work that God has begun and that God will complete in

Philippians 1:6 (LEB) “convinced of this same thing, that the one who began a good work in you will finish it until the day of Christ Jesus”

It is the word of God, the power of God, the leading of the Holy Spirit that is transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ and this is happening not just to a few that have some special ministry gift, but to everyone that calls on the name of Jesus Christ.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Ephesians 5:17-33
  • Ephesians 6:1-24
  • Philippians 1:1-8
1 John 1:1–3
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched, concerning the word of life and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was revealed to us what we have seen and heard, we announce to you also, in order that you also may have fellowship with us, and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.