121st Week, Ephesians Chapters 4-6 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

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 Click on Title for Video Introduction


Monday, Ephesians Chapter 4
Ephesians 4 
Verses 4-6
Tanya Ruden

Sometimes reading Ephesians is like reading Proverbs. Each verse is so great and has such wonderful information in it; it is hard to choose what verse to pick. Once again, I have chosen a verse and then used other verses in the prayer for the day. 

Verses 4-6: There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 

THOUGHT
There is ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE Father. We are to worship only one God in our life, not coveting other items in our lives. We cannot let items become our Gods.  Whether it be money or cars or working, we must always focus on the ONE God. We must always worship and pour all of our faith into ONE God. That is our only hope and is what our faith is founded on. 

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, we have been blessed to have heard of You and have been taught in accordance with Your Truth. We have been taught to put off our old self, which was corrupted by deceitful desires, and made new in attitude of our minds. We have been taught to put on our new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (4:21-24) Sometimes, Lord, it is hard to remove old self. Help us to always live in the new self. Do not let unwholesome talk come from our lips, but only encouraging words and words which reflect your love in our life. (4:29) And lastly Lord, help us to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave us! (4:32) We love You, Jesus. AMEN.


Tuesday, Ephesians Chapter 5
Ephesians 5 
Verses 22,23,28,33
Tanya Ruden

Verses 22,23,28,33: Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord for the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

THOUGHT
All of the verses from 22-33 are great, but I highlighted my favorite, favorites. Seven to ten years ago, the feminist in me would not have liked these verses, but God has changed my heart through my marriage and the book, Power of a Praying Wife. God calls us as wives to not only to submit our lives to Him daily but also to our husbands. Our husbands, no matter how we may disagree with their opinion or a decision of the day, they are the HEAD of the household. We are to submit to them and respect them. We are to serve our husbands. So many of us believe it should be equal since we both work in today’s society. But that is not obeying God's law. No matter what responsibilities we have, our ultimate calling as wives is to respect our husbands and run the household. The love we feel for our spouses and God drives us to want to do these things. 

In turn, husbands are to love their wives. Sound simple? Not necessarily. Although all husbands do love their wives, showing wives they love them as much as themselves, is a tough task. Women need reaffirmation, special feelings, and attention. The manner in which God made men makes this calling as challenging as wives calling to submit to our husbands. But again, through our love for our spouse and God, we are able to show our wives how much we love them. When both spouses act as God calls us to, it makes our household a worship center for the Lord.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for our spouses. Thank You for the way You made us and the rules you placed upon us to make our relationships work. Another great example is if we listen to You and follow Your Word, our lives will work as You intended. Lord, You call us to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. (5:19) Help us to speak to everyone we meet today with this tone and these words. You have shown us the light, Lord. Let us reflect it in all we do and "do what pleases You" (5:10) in all we do! AMEN 


Wednesday, Ephesians Chapter 6
Ephesians 6 
Verses 7,8
Tanya Ruden

Verses 7,8: Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. 

THOUGHT
All people are God's creation, made by Him for His pleasure. All people are our brothers and sisters in Christ. How often we mistreat our 'neighbors' because of how it will make us look or who they are, where they work/live? I know I am much at fault in this area. We use so many excuses, but that is exactly what they are, excuses. In the Purpose Driven Life book it states we are here on earth to serve God/all men. Our ultimate reward is our place in Heaven when God says, “well done my good and faithful servant.”

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, Bless us this weekend as we take a break from the hectic busyness of our work week. Help us to be aware of those people around us and to serve them as You have called us to do. Help us to see Your face in them when we look at them. Help us Lord to "put on the full armor of God and take a stand against the devil's schemes" (6:11) as we encounter them this weekend. Bless those traveling this weekend, Lord. Help us, Lord, to lift up all the concerns on our hearts, to share them with You and submit them all to You. We love You, Jesus. AMEN 


Thursday, Ephesians Chapter 6:10-20
Memorize the Armor of the God and begin each day by putting it on before you arise out of bed.  You will be ready for the devil and all of his evil ways.  Then pray in the fruits of the Spirit.  These two acts will help you walk by the Spirit and not carry out the desires of the flesh.  

Friday, The Oneness of all Believers
Taken from the Life Application Bible

Believers:                             Our unity is experienced in:
Body                                           The fellowship of believers - the church.
Spirit                                           The Holy Spirit, who activates the fellowship.
Hope                                           That glorious future to which we are all called.
Faith                                            Our singular commitment to Christ.
Baptism                                       Baptism - the sign of entry into the church.
God                                             God, who is our Father who keeps us for eternity.

Too often believers are separated because of minor differences in doctrine.  But Paul here shows those areas where Christians must agree to attain true unity.  When believers have this unity of spirit, petty differences should never be allowed to dissolve that unity.  

PRAYER
Thank You Heavenly Farther, for Paul's letter to the Ephesians that encourage us even today to walk our walk in a Christ-like fashion.  Make us realize that Christian Living is a process that is ever on-going.  May we remember to put on the armor of the Lord each day.  Use us to share the gospel and love of Jesus to those around us.  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN





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