For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 6

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

Today I complete my study of Ephesians via my participation in a Discipleship (D) Group that is part of my church. For this morning, I move to a more detailed examination of Ephesians 6:21-24.  These verses focus on Paul's closing remarks to the church in Ephesus in this prison epistle.  Paul tells the Ephesians that he is sending Tychicus to them so that they "may know how he [is] and what [he is] doing"...and so that "Tychicus may encourage [their] hearts" (v21-22). He then sends final greetings in v23-24.   

To assist my learning this morning, I watched the following videos from DesiringGod.com:

What Do the Lives of Teachers Tell Us?

In this video, John Piper observes four key reasons why Paul provides the details he does in his closing remarks to the church in Ephesus:

1. he shares details of how he is doing and what he is doing (i.e. in v20 Paul remarks how he is in "chains" or prison) so that the church can appropriately pray
2. he shares details of what he is doing because teachers not only use words to teach but also teach by enabling others to see how they live, thereby providing a model to imitate; see also 1 Corinthians 4:11-17
3. he shares details because he wants the readers to not lose heart as Paul is suffering for their glory and their sake; see also Ephesians 3:13 and Colossians 1:24
4. Christ gives us teachers to equip and they do so not just with words but by actions and through face-to-face interactions and fellowship; Tychicus is sent in person on behalf of Paul as an encouragement; see also Ephesians 4:11-12
   

A Closing Cry for Peace and Love - through the cross we not only have peace and with God but also with each other.  Love is the means through which we have peace with God and with others. Both peace and love are WITH faith - to show that love and peace flow FROM faith (1 Timothy 1:5). 

Grace from Start to Finish - grace WITH ALL who love Christ with a love that it is incorruptible based on an imperishable source (lasts forever). See also Romans 11:4-6 and Ephesians 1:4-6.  Grace produced faith and then this produced all the fruits of the Spirit, including love and peace.  God gives us grace and this grace via faith produces more (future) grace (infinitely and forever); see also James 4:4-10 and 1 Peter 5:5-7.

Incredible messages from God this morning!  Thank You Jesus!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God - thank You for the grace You have already given me and thank You in anticipation of the grace I know You will give out to me in the future.  I am not deserving of this of course.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Hebrews 3

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. v12-13

We don't want to turn away from God but instead away from sin and towards God.  Others in our sphere of influence (i.e. children) may be tempted so our role should be to encourage others and we can do so by modeling Jesus - the more others see (and hear about) Jesus in us, the more likely they will desire Jesus and turn towards Him.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, feeds me, and encourages me - I cannot exist without You and I know You will never leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and such love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin and to turn to and draw near to You.  I desire to become more like You.  Please help me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.

Titus 3

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. v1-5

As Paul closes his letter to Titus, he moves from what Titus shouldn't do (hypocrisy) to what Titus should do - which is think of God has done for you and let this serve as a reminder that we are to love and forgive others as God loves and forgives us. 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32

We will not be able to play the role God's intends for us in the Great Commission if we are not modeling Jesus to others - particularly in church leadership. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and forgives me - and You died for me...knowing everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus - I am not deserving of such a gift and such blessings.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance....Do not let anyone despise you.

Titus 2

Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance....Do not let anyone despise you. v2, 15

Building on my post from a couple of days ago regarding hypocrisy and how we are to be a light to others, Paul encourages Titus to encourage those in his church to live lives worthy of respect and emulation by those who see them.  Paul addresses multiple roles, including older men (of which of course I am at this point), older women, younger women, and younger men.  Paul also addresses and slaves, yet this is a topic onto itself, including a discussion regarding Biblical views on slavery (sin) and joy in work (see also this post) - on the latter MacArthur believes the use of the term slaves in the Bible should be applied to "all employees".   

In v15, Paul reinforces my post from a couple of days ago by charging Titus to live in such a way that you cannot be accused of hypocrisy as this is believed to cause great harm within the church. ng

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who lived a spotless life - yet You willingly surrendered Your life for me - thank You Jesus!  This is the greatest gift of all time.  Of course I am undeserving of such a gift as sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.

1 Thessalonians 1

The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. v8

Based on overviews of 1 Thessalonians from OverviewBible.com and the MacArthur Bible Study Commentary (for purchase), Paul writes this church, which he founded during his 2nd missionary journey, to commend the church for its faith, hope, and love and also to highlight areas of growth - challenging them to grow into the people God intends for them.

In chapter 1 we see right away how Paul commends the church - particularly because the church exists to glorify God, bring others to Christ and bring believers closer to Christ.

We should be challenged to model Jesus to the extent that OUR faith becomes known everywhere!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You want US to make YOU known everywhere - so we are to become Your ambassadors to display Your greatness - because You are worthy and that is why we exist!  Thank You Jesus for the many miracales You pour out for me.  I am not deserving.  I often neglect my relationship with You or don't treat with the priority it should have - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects oc chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.... Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.... Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.... Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged....Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. v19,21,23-24

Instructions for Christian Households indeed!  As a follow up to my post yesterday on heart and life transformation, today's post serves to reinforce yesterday's scripture with additional instructions as I call out the implications that exist for husbands, fathers, and workers. 

If we are to be a light, we must model Jesus and for us to model Jesus, we must seek heart and life transformation.  We must hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Matthew 5:6

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are light and You pulled me out of the darkness into the light and gave me life...to the full!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings. I sin daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.

Hosea 9

The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God. v8

According to John MacArthur's commentary, prophets such as Ezekiel, as the appointed watchmen, delivered God's message and warning to Israel, yet these messages and warnings were ignored by Israel as they descended into wickedness and sin.

In my role as a father and husband, I often worry about whether I am doing enough as the spiritual head of my household.  To a certain extent this worry is warranted, yet my focus should be not on my worry but on my own spiritual journey with God.  The best thing I can do is to model Jesus for others, including those in my own house.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who gave me Your Son Jesus to save me, and to help me with my own walk - also giving me Your Word, the church, and so much more!  Thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such gifts.  I worry and I miss the mark.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.

Ezekiel 3

But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people. v27

On several occasions in Ezekiel 3, God reminds us that He is in control (see also Colossians 1:16-17).  It is not Ezekiel's job to convince those in exile to turn from their sin - he is to (without fail) simply deliver the message.  In the same way, we as Christians, and fathers (see posts here, here, and here) particularly as spiritual head of the household, must deliver the message of Jesus (see Great Commission) and be Jesus to our families as best as possible as means to allow the Holy Spirit to work in the lives our families.
 
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and is the ultimate Father - the best Father anyone can ever have!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love.  I am selfish.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[J]ust as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Imitation
Matthew 20

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” v25-28.

Today's devotional focuses on Christ's call for humility and to serve.  From the devotional:

In a man’s world, authority and service often have an inverse relationship. The more authority, position, and power one possess the more that man is served. These guys get new titles and assistants, new offices and parking spots, and heaps of flattery and accommodation. In some cultures men don’t even need power or position to earn servitude.

Jesus breaks the rules to serve in person. Watch Him in the gospels, He encourages, He makes breakfast, He hugs kids, He touches, he heals, He shows up.

For me there are two messages here...I need to demonstrate and model Jesus for my sons and for all that know I am a believer.  As part of modeling Jesus, I must die to self (deny myself), serve others, pick up my cross and follow Jesus.

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God that is not only worthy of my praise, but also my full attention and devotion.  I must learn Your ways, commit them to my heart and be more like You...for my own good, for the good of my family and for the glory of You so that I can draw attention and bring others to You.  I love You Jesus. You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  I am often thinking of myself, worrying, etc.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me treasure my wife!  Help me be humble and serve others, including Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me lead effectively with You as my model.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.