Monday 1/4/13

Ephesians 4:4, 6 ESV

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Christians may come from very different backgrounds and conditions, of different tongues and cultures, having different preferences and economic capabilities... However, we all have one important core in common: one God father of all, one Saviour delivered all, and one Holy Spirit swelled in all. The Trinity are the thread that binds all Christian, the strong and defining thread that make us into one body. Our differences then help us to complement and support others. Like the eyes, the mouth, hands and legs, we have different functions, but all for a common goal in a common body of Christ.

Thursday 28/3/13

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

God has called us to be His children and redeemed us from the wage of our sins, which is death. From sinners put aside for judgement, we are now God's saints - the people who know Him, hear His Word, citizens of heaven, witness for Him on earth.

Therefore, we must walk in a manner worthy of this calling, which is:

_with all humility and gentleness:

we must not think of ourselves higher or better than others, better not comparing at all, like body parts - eyes, ears, arms, legs - should not compare with each others. Instead, we must consider ourselves lower and be gentle & considerate in everything.

_ with patience, bearing with one another in love:

we must be slow to speak, slow to anger, willing to bear & endure provoking behaviors. Instead of reacting angrily, we must bless our enemies, do good to those hate us, pray for those who persecute us... that we maybe children of God.

_ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace:

We should always try to keep the unity & peace, in our church, in our family, and in our community. Few conflicts are irreconcilable or cannot be compromised. Unity and peace are more important than most, especially our pride or our petty opinions.

Tuesday 26/3/13

Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

We tend to underestimate what God can do and limit them to what are feasible to men. God can do far more than what we think. In the Bible, before God acts, He always sets things up to impossible circumstance, so that when He acts, it is a clear miracle can only be done by the almighty. Therefore, we should ask and pray often. Pray for our needs, for our plans, but more importantly, pray for His Kingdom and His will be done. If we are sure that He is with us, we can be sure that He will work things out. In the end all will work out for our good.

Monday 25/3/13

Ephesians 3:17-19 ESV

that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

To have the strength to comprehend all depths, to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, we must be rooted and grounded in love. Why?

One reason I think of is to comprehend all depths and to know the love of  Christ, we must go through hardship & trials. We can not easily & comfortably gain them. Being rooted in the love of God gives us strength to go through these difficulties without fainting & becoming bitter. Grounded in God's love, we know He is with us with His rod & staff as we walk through the shadow of death. And that He has approved the trail to build us up.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Another is that all wisdom & commandments in the Bible is to help us love God & love our neighbor. Therefore, only by rooted & grounded in love that we can comprehend them correctly. Otherwise, we may fall to legalism - keeping the outward appearance of the laws and the ceremonies, but empty of love andfull of envy and hypocrisy. The inner & spiritual parts, loving God & loving our neighbors, are more important than the external parts.

Friday 22/3/13

Ephesians 3:14-17 ESV

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith

Our bodies are the temple - the dwelling place - of God on earth. God's Spirit dwells in our being and Christ in our heart. Therefore, we can be assured that God hears us and cares for us. He can answer our prayer and provide us with His heavenly richest and the authority of the Creator. Moreover, God can strengthen us and give us skills to do what He want us to do for He is the Maker of the eyes and the ears.

Therefore, we must come to Him regularly in our prayer and seek His help in faith. We must not seek for ourselves, else it won't be answered. Instead, we must seek them for our calling, what God wants us to do for His Kingdom, for our neighbors, and for the creation. He will hear us and gradually enable us to do what we need to.

Wednesday 20/3/13

Ephesians 3:11-12 ESV

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Our redemption & salvation in Christ have always been in God's mind, even before the Creation of the world. He allowed the Fall to happen, so that we can learn good & evil, and can relate to Him not just as the Creator, but also our Provider, our Saviour and our Counselor.

Therefore, in Christ, we can freely access Him through faith and prayer. And we should boldly do so, regardless of our background and sins. He knows our weaknesses, and He is willing to forgive us when we confess and repent. He also hears our prayers and He can provide us with skills and knowledge, with physical & moral strength to help us live a good life in Him.

Tuesday 19/3/13

Ephesians 3:7-9 ESV

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,

What has a Christian accomplished when he shares the Gospel and teach the Word of God?

+ He is ministering God's grace to others. He is serving God, and helping others to receive the unsearchable richest in Christ.

+ He is giving light for others to see the plan of the Creator, to help them find the better way to follow than what they are seeing.

Monday 17/3/13

Ephesians 3:4, 6 ESV

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ... This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The church is not exclusive. Gentiles are those who don't know God, or not believe (yet). They do not share our believes & values, neither do they follow God's way nor involve in Church activities. Like Saul, they may even go against God and persecute Christians to protect their believes. Nevertheless, we need to keep in mind they may some day be Christians and become a co-heir, member of the same body of Christ, and receiver of the same promise.

Therefore, we must love our neighbors and treat them with gentleness & patience as with a brother or sister in church, whether they believe or not.

Monday 17/3/13

Ephesians 3:4, 6 ESV

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ... This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The church is not exclusive. Gentiles are those who don't know God, or not believe (yet). They do not share our believes & values, neither do they follow God's way nor involve in Church activities. Like Saul, they may even go against God and persecute Christians to protect their believes. Nevertheless, we need to keep in mind they may some day be Christians and become a co-heir, member of the same body of Christ, and receiver of the same promise.

Therefore, we must love our neighbors and treat them with gentleness & patience as with a brother or sister in church, whether they believe or not.

Friday 15/3/13

Ephesians 3:2-3 ESV

assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

Paul is a steward of God's grace. God revealed to him and made him know the mystery of the Bible. With that knowledge and understanding, he then minister to everyone around him. To the church & the believers, he helped them to grow and mature in faith. To the non-believers, he shared the Gospel and tried to convince them.

While we are not gifted with skills, knowledge & understanding as Paul, we nevertheless are also the steward of God's grace and those around us. All of us are given spiritual gifts to serve the church and serve our community for the glory of God.  It's important for us to know our gifts and exercise them, to fulfill our duty as steward of God's grace to others.

Thursday 14/3/13

Ephesians 2:20-22 ESV

...Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Where is the temple of God? Where is the dwelling place of His Spirit? Heavens and earth cannot contain Him, His presence is everywhere. Here the Bible says God dwells within His believers. When we believe in the Gospel & receive salvation in Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and dwell within us. Our bodies then contain our spirits and the Holy Spirit (and sometime visiting evil spirits to tempt us to sin). He is God's Spirit dwelling within us, through Him we have contact with God. The Holy Spirit then teaches us, guides us, and help us in our prayers. Through Him and through us, other people can know & communicate with God.

As God dwells within His people, the community of believers forms His temple, where God is worshiped, His teaching is taught, and His ministries are carried out. Through us, His love & power are shown. Through us, people can come to Him. So we need to be aware of our duties and privileges to fulfill God's role for us.

Tuesday 12/3/13

Ephesians 2:18-20 ESV

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

The church is the community of believers, of saints, of fellow heaven citizens, of members in the household of God. We have many things in common: Jesus Christ as our savior, God as our father, the Bible and the work of the apostles & the prophets as our guiding words. Therefore, we are not strangers and aliens. We are brothers and sisters, and we ought to think and behave as such.

Monday 11/3/13

Ephesians 2:13-14 ESV

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

We once were sinners without God and without hope in this world. But by His blood, Christ has redeemed us and brought us near to God. And Christ does not just reconcile us to God, He also reconcile us to each others, break down the dividing wall of hostility.

What Christ has broken down, we must not built up again. We must keep the peace, the harmony and reconcile the errors according to the Bible, in the spirit of gentleness.

Moreover, we must strengthen & make the best of the unity Christ has formed. We need to do things together, pray together, fellowship together, etc ... Else even though there is no wall, still no binding.

Thursday 07/03/13

Ephesians 2:11-12 ESV

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

We need to remember who we are before we received Christ, and who we could have become without God. That's the best way for us to see the blessings and the work of God in our lives. That helps us avoid taking Him for granted and being ungrateful, but be grateful and love Him more.

Before receiving Christ, we "were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world." But after receiving Christ, we received these previous gifts from God:

_ we were connected to Christ, and from Christ connected to God as His children, inherited the rich heavenly blessings reserved for Christ and the children of God.

_ we were joined to the commonwealth of believers, the church, and could enjoy the fellowship of the saints.

_ we can learn the rich promises of God to those who love Him, and can claim them through faith and prayers.

_ we are no longer alone in this world. We have God and can always hope in Him, and come to Him in prayer. The Almighty Creator promise hear us and act for our good and edification.

These are the very first gifts of God for those who believe in the Gospel. We once didn't have it, bit now we have in Christ.

Wednesday 6/3/13

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Why did God create us? There are many reasons, among them is "for good works, which God prepared before hand". Therefore, it is important for us to think and reflect on what God has gifted us, and how we can use them for good in our circumstance. We also need to pray God to reveal what He calls us to do, the way which we should walk in them.

Tuesday 4/3/13

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

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.

This verse reminds us that our salvation is the gift of God. We only hear, believe and receive. It's God comes down from heaven, take on human form as Jesus Christ to die for us and pay for our sin. We have done nothing to boast.

All the good works we've done are also nothing compared to what we have received from God. What can we give in exchange for our salvation, eternal life, the relationship with the Creator? The whole earth and everything we have are from Him. He gives them to us in His pleasure, for our living & enjoyment, not for us but for all mankind. It's our duty & natural response that we love Him with all we have, and obey His commandment to love our neighbors.

In all cases, we must not boast of anything we have. We must acknowledge they are His blessings, given to us for His glory, our wellbeing, and to do what He wants us to.