Day 13 - Ephesians 4:25-32

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Tori's Comments:

"anger gives a foothold to the devil" Some frustration or impatience may seem so small, but give way to something deeper and far worse than you thought.

To let EVERYTHING I say be an encouragement to hearers goes beyond not saying mean things but instead letting kindness and love reign over our mouths. That is an area in my life that will need a lot of work.


Terrie's Comments:

As we have been learning, We are freed from the law.  We are free to use that freedom however we choose to use it.  However there are benefits to living how the Holy Spirit guides you and becoming more like Jesus Christ.  

Like... there are reasons to not let anger control you and to not hold grudges or hold onto anger towards others... it is because Anger gives the devil a foothold.

We use our hands to work hard so we can give generously to those in need.

The reason to not use foul or abusive language and to use good and helpful words instead is to be an encouragement to others around you.

When bring glory to God, by the way we live, because he has identified us as His own and guarantee's that we will be saved on the day of redemption, we don't bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit.

And when we get rid of all types of evil behavior and replace it with being kind to each other and forgiving each other we are imitating Jesus and becoming more like the one who died to save us.

Our behavior doesn't make us right with God or anymore righteous but there are benefits to using our freedom in Christ for His glory and getting to partner with him to further the kingdom of Heaven!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 12 - Ephesians 4:17-24

17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Terrie's Comments: 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!  

In verse 22 I love the vivid image that pops into my head of "Throwing off" your old sinful nature and your old way of life... which is corrupted.  Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  then "Put on" your new nature created to be like God, righteous and holy.  There are two actions that we are called to do... Throw off and then Put on!  We need to do it.  We need to surrender our thoughts and our attitudes so they can be fully renewed.  

It is my hope that you are spending time in God's word everyday.  It is a great way to renew your mind each day and continue to Put on your new nature so you become more and more like Jesus everyday!

Tori's Comments:

Merry Christmas!!! AHHH!

The kind of renewal in this passage isn't mixing old with the new or adding some Christian qualities to your life but a complete overhaul by the Spirit. 

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 11- Ephesians 4:10-16

10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Tori's Comments:
We need to grow in our faith so we can have strong roots and know what God's word says against what others want it to say. 

"speak the truth in love"

Terrie's Comments:

I don't think I have ever considered that Christ gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers as gifts to equip us to do his work and build up the body of Christ.  That is cool that they are a gift to us.

When we have come to maturity we no longer are tossed back and forth between teachings.  We will not be able to be tricked by lies that are clever and sound like the truth but is not.  We will in turn be able to speak the truth ourselves to others in love.  We will be growing in every way to be more and more like Jesus.  As we each do our part we help the other parts grow so that the whole body is healthy, growing and full of love.  

It would be great if every church valued all parts and worked together as a healthy body that is growing and full of love... someday :-) 

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 10 - Ephesians 4:1-9

SHILOH

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.
7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,

“When he ascended to the heights,
    he led a crowd of captives
    and gave gifts to his people.”
9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.

Terrie's Comments:

The theme of Unity and Peace within the body of Christ is very clear in this letter.  We are to be one in body and spirit.  There is to be no division as we live with each other in love.  Patience, Humility, Gentleness, Unity in the Spirit, Peaceful, Making allowance for one another's faults... This is how we are to live in the Body of Christ until he returns :-) Good thing we have the Holy Spirit to help us fill this tall order.  Humanly speaking that is near impossible.  But with God all things are possible :-) 

Tori's Comments:

A prisoner FOR serving the Lord.

Anything else we give ourselves to: money, sex, and worldly pleasures, are all UNWORTHY of our calling. We have been called to a greater, more beautiful path full of humility, gentleness, patience, peace, and hope.

Vs. 2 talks about overlooking each other's faults, and that's something I don't see enough in my own life. Everyone has their own struggles, and nitpicking each other is not what God desires, but a life full of love and unity. 

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!