Ephesians 5:1-7 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (v. 1) This verse jumped out at me when I read it as “dear children” in the NKJV. Something about “dear” seems more personal than “beloved”. That phrase caught my eye as I imagined myself as God’s “dear child”, thinking of our granddaughter, Audra, just …
Author Archives: Fred
September 8 / Ephesians 4:25-32
Ephesians 4:25-32 Today’s reading has a number of what are known as “take off, put on” instructions (vv. 25, 28, 29). These verses are so well known by this phrase that just now I typed “take off, put on” into a search engine and today’s verses came up as the first links! (Other later items …
September 7 / Ephesians 4:17-24
Ephesians 4:17-24 Finally, an end to a long weekend’s travels – hopefully I can get back on schedule with posting in the mornings instead of this late night stuff! …that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, … and that you be renewed in the spirit of your …
September 6 / Ephesians 4:7-16
Ephesians 4:7-16 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens… (v. 10) There is controversy over this verse. When Paul writes He who descended…, is He referring to Jesus’ descent into hell, as we read in the Apostles Creed or is he referring to Jesus’ leaving heaven to come …
September 5 / Ephesians 4:1-6
Ephesians 4:1-6 I therefore … urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called… (v. 1) This line is one of my favorites in all of Paul’s writings. Whatever we are doing in our lives, we should be doing it “as before the Lord”. Whether work or …
September 4 / Ephesians 3:14-21
Ephesians 3:14-21 !! Paul highlights the Trinity again in today’s reading – the Father in verse 14, the Spirit in verse 16, and Christ in verse 17. Each of the following four words is mentioned twice in today’s eight verses: strength, power, love, glory. I think the first three words could be placed in any …
September 3 / Ephesians 3:8-13
Ephesians 3:8-13 …so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (v. 10) I think I can understand this verse if I come at it from Paul’s perspective. Paul was a Jew, a very learned Jew, well versed in the …
September 2 / Ephesians 3:1-7
Ephesians 3:1-7 Fundamentally, I’m happy not to be a Bible scholar. The confusions are many, the options are numerous, and the clues are muddled. Today, another confusion… Three days ago I wrote this paragraph relating to Ephesians 1:15: For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love …
September 1 / Ephesians 2:11-22
Ephesians 2:11-22 Clarification… In today’s reading, in verses 11 to 13 Paul is speaking in the second person (you) directly to the Ephesians, as Gentiles. Then in the rest of the reading he switches (mostly) to the first person and is writing about both the Gentiles and the Jews. In particular, in using the phrases …
September 2020 Readings
Date Reading(s) Verses 01-Sep Ephesians 2:11-22 12 02-Sep Ephesians 3:1-7 7 03-Sep Ephesians 3:8-13 6 04-Sep Ephesians 3:14-21 8 05-Sep Ephesians 4:1-6 6 06-Sep Ephesians 4:7-16 10 07-Sep Ephesians 4:17-24 8 08-Sep Ephesians 4:25-32 8 09-Sep Ephesians 5:1-7 7 10-Sep Ephesians 5:8-14 7 11-Sep Ephesians 5:15-21 7 12-Sep Ephesians 5:22-33 12 13-Sep Ephesians 6:1-9 9 …