Wednesday 20/11/13

Ephesians 5:22-24 ESV

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

In Ephesians 5:21, the Bible instructs Christians to submit to one another, not because the other is more right, but because of reverence to Christ. Similarly, here God instructs wives to submit to their husbands, not because the husbands are more right, but because that's God's ordinance.

The reasons can be similar to Ephesians 5:21 previously: 1. Submitting, patience and forbearance are the acts of love, 2. Peace and unity are generally preferable to quarreling & strifes, even if the common path is not completely right to us, 3. Conflict resolution ought to follow a proper protocol, angry reaction just makes things worse.

Moreover, God desires husband & wife to be one flesh. There can only be one driver in a car, one leader of the group. The others can contribute their opinions for consideration, but all need to submit themselves to the leader decision. For two to be one, one must be leader, and the other must submit. God gives the duty to lead for the husband, to submit for the wife.

Monday 18/11/13

Ephesians 5:21 ESV

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Are we having conflicts with other Christians, or disagreeing with the church direction? If so, the Bible commands us to bear with one another and submitting to one another, out of reverence to Christ, even if we don't feel right or agreeable to do so.

The Bible doesn't give any explanation here. However, other places give us some hints:
_ Forebearing and patience with others are the signs of love. They show that we are practicing God's love.
_ Our humanly anger cannot bring the righteousness of God. It mostly leads us to sin. Instead, the Bible gives us the conflict resolution protocol: in private, via the elders and leaders, and finally, via the church. And we ought to respect & submit ourselves to the community.
_ There is strength and peace in unity. So being united and working together is more important than being more right yet having quarrels & strifes. Unless something is utterly wrong, it's better to submit ourselves & bear with one another than to have quarrels & strifes.

As God is forgiving & forebearing to us, we should do the same to one another via practicing love, keeping unity and peace, following a good conflict resolution protocol. Moreover, both sides can be wrong. Therefore, all must look toward God and seek His Will via Bible and prayer.

Thursday 14/11/13

Ephesians 5:20 ESV

giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

What can we gain without the blessing of God? We tend to overestimate our contribution in our achievements. Indeed, we have some skills & put in lots of effort. However, as the Bible says in  Ecclesiastes 9:11 ESV

Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

We contribute the skills & efforts, but God gives us the external factors like time & chance, opportunity & help, guidance & support... Therefore, we must be thankful to Him in all good things & all our achievements.

Moreover, as we know God plays a deciding role in our successes or failures, we ought to seek His will & His blessings in all we do. And as we walk close to Him, commune with Him in prayers and obey His commandments, we can trust that everything that have happened, good or bad, are for our good and our refinement.

Monday 11/11/13

Ephesians 5:18-19 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

Worldly people fill themselves with wine spirit to have fun and find comfort.  But that likely leads to debauchery. Christians ought to fill themselves with the Holy Spirit instead.

How to be filled with the Holy Spirit? By addressing one another with Psalms, spiritual songs, singing to the Lord. Just like wine, song and music can lift up one's spirit and make one merry. But unlike wine, they will not lead to debauchery. Instead, psalms & hymns & spiritual songs point our eyes to God, the source of our joys, our comforts and our providence. They strengthen our commitment to do good deeds and keep to the righteous path.

Monday 4/11/13

Ephesians 5:17 ESV

Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

As Christians, we must not be foolish. The opposite of foolishness is to understand the will of the Lord. But how can we understand the Lord's will?

First, we must diligently study His Word. His Will will always align with His Word. Not knowing His teachings & commandments, we have no basis to make our decisions. How to act according to His Word is the basis to understand His Will.

Second, we need to walk close to Him. That's to be mindful of God in all our deeds, knowing that He searches us inside out and know what we do in secret. By thinking of God before we do a thing, we will be sensitive to His Will whether we ought to do it.

Third, we need to seek His Will and His guidance in our walk, through asking in prayer, through asking advices and modeling Godly people.
When we seek His Will in our walk, He will lead us in the right path for the sake of His reputation. He will bless us, provide us and protect us. He will make all things work out for our good (although not for our easy & comfort). So it's important for us to study His Word, walk mindful of His watching, and ask Him in prayer & through Godly people. With that, we will live a blessed life under God.