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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Eph. 4-5
I think I need to start seeing my life as a Christian as more than my life as a Christian. Christianity isn’t simply a relationship between me and God through Christ. It is so much more than that. Paul’s words here indicate to me that when Jesus changes us, He not only makes us someone new, but He also makes us part of something new. He takes the many and He makes us one. So when the Bible talks about being clothed in the righteousness of Christ, I need to think of that not as a whole slew of little individual robes, but as one robe that clothes the body of Christ as one unit. Thus, if I want that robe to cover me, I need to be part of the body wearing it.
Paul further indicates to me that unity in the body of Christ is about more than merely getting along. It is about working and growing together, with each individual part supporting every other individual part. To do that, I need to understand that my thoughts and actions don’t just affect me. When I choose to follow my destructive fleshly desires, the whole body, including Christ, suffers for it.
Eph. 6
I don’t know about you, but I often find it hard to maintain a good attitude in everything that is mine to do. I often find myself in situations that I don’t enjoy with responsibilities that I don’t want. It can be really difficult to maintain any kind of good attitude, especially when such situations become your daily grind. But Paul wrote something here that might help. He said, “Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people” (Eph. 6:7). If I can reframe those unpleasant tasks and situations as my service to the God who went to extravagant lengths just to call me His own, perhaps it will make it easier for me to keep an attitude of gratitude, maybe even with a dose of joy.