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Devotion Time: 2012 Devotions: Ephesians 2b-4a November 12 – November 17, 2012
Monday, November 12Bible Text
Ephesians 2:11-22 (ESV)
11Therefore 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— 12remember 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. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
REFLECTION Questions
Ephesians 2:11-13
· Reflect back on your life separated from Christ highlighted by the words “alienated,” “strangers,” “having no hope,” and “without God.” What was required for you to experience “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near”?
Ephesians 2:14-16
· How have I experienced Jesus overcoming the “dividing wall of hostility” that separates me from others? What walls of hostility need to be demolished in my life?
Ephesians 2:19-22
· In what ways does my old identity as a “stranger” and “alien” still persist, despite the fact that I am now a part of “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”?
· What do I need to do to foster the process of “being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” with others who are “members of the household of God”?
· How do I need to change my thoughts, speech, and actions so that we (the body of Christ) can grow into “a holy temple in the Lord”?
Personal Prayer
Write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT. / Ephesians 2 - Commentary
v. 11: “The labels ‘the uncircumcision’ and ‘the circumcision’ were common Jewish ways of referring to Gentiles and Jews respectively. The former expressed disdain for the nonelect and disobedient, while the latter was a title of honor and privilege for those belonging to God’s covenant.” [1]
vv. 21-22: “In the treatment of 2:1-10 we saw that Christians can no longer view themselves merely as individuals. They are part of Christ and of each other. In 2:11-22 this theme is emphasized once again, with ‘one new being’ and with the ‘body’ and ‘building’ imagery. The problem is that modern Christians — especially in the Western world — seem to know only individualism. We must change our outlook. This passage confronts our individualism and asserts our involvement with Christ and with those in him. We cannot separate our relation with God from our relation with other people. The two are so interwoven that they do not exist in isolation, even if we rightly argue the relationship with God is primary. The horizontal and vertical dimensions interact with and define each other. Even in approaching God in confession and repentance, we have already acted on the horizontal plane.” [2]
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Devotion Time: 2012 Devotions: Ephesians 2b-4a November 12 – November 17, 2012
tuesday, November 13Bible Text
Ephesians 3:1-13 (ESV)
3For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7Of 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. 8To 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, 9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
REFLECTION Questions
Ephesians 3:1-3
· In what ways can I become more faithful as a “prisoner for Christ Jesus” and a better steward of God’s grace?
Ephesians 3:7-9
· Apostle Paul considers himself as “the very least of all the saints.” How do I view myself, and how does that affect my attitude toward my calling as a minister of the gospel?
Ephesians 3:10-13
· What is God’s intent for the church, and how am I contributing toward that end?
· How does Apostle Paul’s understanding of his identity, the gospel, and the church affect his response to sufferings?
Personal Prayer
Write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT. / Ephesians 3 - Commentary
vv. 2-6: “What is this eternal purpose which is now being worked out in history, this divine plan which thus belongs to both history and eternity? It concerns the church, the creating of a new and reconciled humanity in union with Jesus Christ. This is the ‘mystery’, hidden for ages but now revealed.” [3]
v. 3ff: “We need to realize that the word mystery is different in Greek than in English. In Greek, although it means a ‘secret’ as in English, it is no longer closely guarded but open. Christian ‘mysteries’ are truths which, although beyond human discovery, have been revealed by God and so now belong openly to the whole church.” [4]
vv. 10-11: “If the church is central to God’s purpose as seen in both history and the gospel, it must surely also be central to our lives. How can we take lightly what God takes so seriously? How dare we push to the circumference what God has placed at the centre? No, we shall seek to become responsible church members, active in some local manifestation of the universal church. We shall not be able to acquiesce in low standards which fall far short of the New Testament ideals for God’s new society […]. If instead (like Paul) we keep before us the vision of God’s new society as his family, his dwelling place and his instrument in the world, then we shall constantly be seeking to make our church’s worship more authentic, its fellowship more caring and its outreach more compassionate.” [5]
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Devotion Time: 2012 Devotions: Ephesians 2b-4a November 12 – November 17, 2012
wednesday, November 14Bible Text
Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)
14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20Now 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, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
REFLECTION Questions
Ephesians 3:14-19
· One of Apostle Paul’s prayers for these Christians is for Christ to dwell in their hearts. What does this reveal about what our hearts are prone to? How does faith enable Christ to dwell in our hearts?
· What might get in the way of comprehending the “breadth and length and height and depth” of Christ’s love?
· Apostle Paul prays that they would “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.” If this prayer were answered in our lives, what effect would it have in the church?
Ephesians 3:20-21
· Reflect on all the ways I have experienced God doing “far more abundantly than all that [I] ask or think.” How should this truth transform how I approach my future?
Personal Prayer
Write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT. / Ephesians 3 - Commentary
v. 18: “The four dimensions Paul now presents as the object of such perception are closely linked with the knowledge of Christ’s love, though not necessarily to be equated with it. […] The apostle is simply telling us that the love of Christ, exemplified in his magnanimity to the Gentiles, is too large to be confined by any geometrical measurements. It is wide enough to reach the whole world and beyond (1:9, 10, 20). It is long enough to stretch from eternity to eternity (1:4–6, 18; 3:9). It is high enough to raise both Gentiles and Jews to heavenly places in Christ Jesus (1:13; 2:6). It is deep enough to rescue people from sin’s degradation and even from the grip of Satan himself (2:1–5; 6:11, 12). The love of Christ is the love he has for the church as a united body (5:25, 29, 30) and for those who trust in him as individuals (3:17).” [6]
vv. 20-21: “The doxology is plainly the climax of the first half of Ephesians; it may be regarded as the climax of the whole letter, which rises to a spiritual peak at this point and then concentrates on practical outworkings. […] The apostle has repeatedly insisted that the end of redemption is the glory of God (Eph 1:6, 12, 14, 18; 2:7; 3:10, 16). In the doxology he rehearses themes already touched on--the abundance of God's gift (1:18, 19; 2:7; 3:19), the power made available to the Christian (1:19; 3:7, 16, 18), and the indissoluble link between Christ and the church (1:22, 23; 3:10).” [7]
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Devotion Time: 2012 Devotions: Ephesians 2b-4a November 12 – November 17, 2012
Thursday, November 15Bible Text
Ephesians 4:1-10 (ESV)
4I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
9(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)
REFLECTION Questions
Ephesians 4:1-6
· What does walking “in a manner worthy of the calling” entail?
· What would it take for me to walk “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love”? Who are the people with whom I need to be humble, gentle, patient, and bear with in love?
· Apostle Paul is urging these Christians to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit.” Why would this be so important (see also 3:10, 21)?
· Reflect on the grace given to each of us “according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” How should this reminder usher unity within the church?
Personal Prayer
Write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT. / Ephesians 4 - Commentary
v. 1ff: “Application requires accepting the challenge to live out our faith. So often Christianity is presented as if nothing is required of believers. We place so much emphasis on human weakness, on our inability to do anything profitable, and on the necessity of God’s actions in salvation that no room is left for human responsibility. The New Testament never gives this impression! Human responsibility is wedded to God’s action, but we are responsible. We must expect something of ourselves. If God’s salvation is so good, live like it. This requires an act of the will and a determination to follow through. As Philip Spener said, “It is by no means enough to have knowledge of the Christian faith, for Christianity consists rather of practice.’ [P. Spener, Pia Desideria, trans. Theodore G. Tappert (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1964), 95] […] Our problem is that we have a million dollar salvation and a five-cent response. We seem unimpressed with God’s salvation. We protest that no one can actually live worthy of this calling and express our fears of perfectionism. The text is anxious about neither; its concern is only that our lives are shaped by God’s salvation. Right theology should lead to right conduct.” [8]
v. 2: “[…] ‘bearing with one another in love’ sounds archaic and loses the force of the text. A more appropriate translation is ‘putting up with each other in love.’ The Christian life is a life of putting up with other people, and this tolerance finds its ability and motivation in love (cf. Gal. 6:2).” [9]
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