Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
Instead, speaking the truth in love …
Summary: Some phrases in the Bible set off alarms with this writer. Today’s passage is one of them. We need to carefully consider the nature of truth and the meaning of love to avoid misapplying Paul’s instruction.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:15a – AH-OO-GA!”Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.
Summary: Looking back in time we find a real-life example of what Paul is talking about in this passage. Thinking about Paul’s words in the light of the Old Testament helps us understand what he was trying to say.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:14 – Taking Control”… attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Summary: Measuring things only is meaningful if we can measure them in a meaningful way. Looking at the life of Jesus reveals a fullness that is beyond measure.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:13d – Beyond Measure”… and become mature …
Summary: How we use language impacts how we think and what we do. It has a powerful influence on what we believe, too.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:13c – Perfection”… the knowledge of the Son of God
Summary: Paul’s word for “knowledge” leads us to a deeper understanding of what it means to know Christ and how that affects us.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:13b – Equipped for Jesus”… until we all reach unity in the faith …
Summary: Looking at the question of unity causes us to ask, “What causes disunity?” The answer could include a million things, but today we look at the need to forgive.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:13a – Forgive Like Jesus”… to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up …
Summary: Why does God provide leaders for the body of Christ? The answer is simple; to build up the body of Christ. The surprising part is that he needs us to help.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:12 – Body Builder”… apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers …
Summary: Understanding who these people are requires us to understand our relationship with Jesus, the body of Christ, and those who do not yet know our Lord.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:11b – Circles of Faith”So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers …
Summary: The one thing all of the people Paul mentions have in common is leadership. Leaders, regardless of their specialty, share certain traits. Our meditation today is all about leadership.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:11 – Roadmap to Success”So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Summary: Sometimes it helps to restate what Paul has said in simpler terms. Here we look at a simplified version of this passage to get a better picture of what Paul is trying to say.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:11-13 – The Goal of Faith”