January 24
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COMMANDS FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY TURN OUT WELL FOR YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:1-4
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In the first four verses of the sixth chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he gives the instructions for parents and children. Obedience is expected from children to give to their parents and in turn, their lives will go well and that they may have long lives. There is a counterpart command for the fathers in letter, but I am sure that the mother is also expected to follow this instruction. In the previous chapter, we hear Paul giving the instruction for the husbands who head their wives. So, the fathers are to take lead in bringing up their children and the wife is the helper. According to a commentary, the command is simple but this not only means that children have the responsibility to obey, but parents have the responsibility to teach their children obedience – one of the most important jobs for a parent. Since our inherent nature is already disobedient, it is imperative for parents to discipline and rear up their children in obedience. Disobedience comes along with consequences and the parents ought to teach them to be responsible for their disobedience and face such consequences. When Paul says that this is the first commandment with a promise, he is referring to Deuteronomy 5:16, where God promised to bless the obedient child.
Fathers are cautioned to raise their children without aggravating them into anger but to raise them and teach them God’s laws. Lloyd-Jones comments “When you are disciplining a child, you should have first controlled yourself… What right have you to say to your child that he needs discipline when you obviously need it yourself?” To bring up a child in training is not just scolding them but encouragement and correction must be combined with teaching and discipline. I had a father who raised me solely on scolding and pushing me to achieve but I was never taught and encouraged or shown affection or given attention only if I perform well. It drove me to anger because all I can remember are those times I was punished. I can’t remember being taught or told consequences if I don’t obey. I just got the consequence without the clear-cut boundaries set. It wounded me badly and I am still suffering those painful unloving and punitive acts until now.
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REFLECTION
• Why is teaching and disciplining children be coupled with encouragement as well?
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THE LOVE THAT THE HUSBAND OUGHT TO GIVE HIS WIFE ILMA’S VLOG
January 23
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THE LOVE THAT THE HUSBAND OUGHT TO GIVE HIS WIFE
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are parts of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
-Ephesians 5:25-33
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There is so much confusion in the roles of husband in our world today. It was the same issues that the Ephesians were facing in the days of Paul. So, he gave them a guideline as to the husband’s mandate to love the wife that was given to them. In verse 25, Paul commands husbands to give their wives the kind of love Christ would give his church. What does this mean? Paul gives a clear example how Christ gave Himself up for the church. He is talking about “sacrificial love”. Do we know how to sacrifice in this age of “selfies”? Do we value sacrifice in a world where the gods are the self? In verse 26, Paul gives the reason for sacrificial love that is ought to be given to the wife. It will purify her and Paul further instructs him how to do this: by cleansing her with truth that comes from God’s word. Verse 27 gives the husbands what the result or consequence would be if he did sacrificially love and cleanse her with Scriptures: she will be holy and blameless.
Paul reminds the husband of his own body when he commands him to love his wife. No wonder we have so much proliferation of pornography. Many men probably do not love their own bodies or they wouldn’t engage in such filthy acts of lasciviousness. Paul likens a man’s care for his own body as Christ cares for his church. Paul further expounds on the mystery of marriage, the two are already one flesh and no longer two separate bodies. They are now bound to operate as unified one body and need to care for that united flesh and united spirit just like Christ and his church are one.
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REFLECTION
• Why are husbands unable to sacrificially love their wives in our current world?
WHY WIVES MUST SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDS ILMA’S VLOG
January 22
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WHY WIVES MUST SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDS
22 Wives, subject yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. – Ephesians 5:22-24
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According to a commentary on this chapter, the command given in Ephesians 5:22 is difficult. God knows this, so He also includes reasons for His command. He wants us to understand the principle behind the command. The first reason for a Christian wife’s submission must be obedience and respect to Jesus, instead of obedience and respect to her husband. Paul states that the second reason for a wife’s submission is because the husband is the head of the wife. In its full sense head has the idea of headship and authority. It means to have the appropriate responsibility to lead and the matching accountability. It is right and appropriate to submit to someone who is our head. Other passages in the bible that talks about headship is 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Timothy 3, where emphasis is constantly placed on man, since he was created first and not the woman. There is a hierarchy in creation for humans. The bible says that woman was made out of the man in Genesis 2:22. Woman was taken out of the man to show a connection to him, and that she was meant to be a help for man, a helper who was fitting for him. Llyod-Jones says that man was created first and man was also made to have dominion over creation. It was to man that this authority was given over the brute animal creation; it was man who was called upon to give them names. Man was given the position of leadership, lordship, authority and power. Lloyd-Jones further comments “When a woman gets married, she gives up her name, she takes the name of her husband. That is Biblical, and also the custom of the whole world. That teaches us the relationship between the husband and the wife. It is not the husband who changes his name, but the wife.”
Paul likens the headship of the husband to his wife as Christ’s authority over his church. This is the order of God’s creation, but the world has corrupted this hierarchy by messing up roles and creating a different order. No wonder many women struggle to submit to their husbands because of the confusion that the world system has brought into our lives.
Gender roles have been messed up, therefore marriages become chaotic and confusing.
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REFLECTION
• How different is the concept of submission to the world and to God’s truth?
BE WISE AND UNDERSTAND GOD’S WILL ILMA’S VLOG
January 21
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BE WISE AND UNDERSTAND GOD’S WILL
15 So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; 21 and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
-Ephesians 5:15-21
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Paul gives us good advice once again in this letter. He cautions us to avoid living our lives as foolish people. He mentions the importance of time which probably refers to opportunities to bring the gospel to many because we live in wicked days. By being wise, he is referring to understanding the will of the Lord. In other words, we need to study the word of God in order for us to be the light for all unbelievers and believers as well to see. As believers, Jesus shone His light on all of us; that light should be shining to as much darkness is surrounding all humans in as much time as we can. According to David Guzik, the idea here is of the time; it is a definite season of opportunity that Christians must redeem. This same word is translated opportunity in Galatians 6:10.Paul isn’t telling us to make the most of every moment, even though that is good advice. He tells us to seize opportunity for the glory of Jesus. It isn’t to make the most of time, but to make the most of the time. The idea behind redeeming the time is that you buy up opportunities like a shrewd businessman. You make the most of every opportunity for Jesus Christ.
Paul addresses the issue of being drunk with wine because it is the opposite of being filled with the Spirit. He uses the word debauchery which means extreme indulgence in bodily pleasures, especially sexual immorality. The Spirit-filled life is marked by worship and gratitude, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, never-ending gratitude for all He gave us. When we are filled with the Spirit, we will have a desire to worship God and to encourage others in their worship of God. The connection with being filled with the Spirit and praise is significant. Those who are filled with the Spirit will naturally praise, and praise is a way that we are filled with the Spirit.
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REFLECTION
• How is wisdom synonymous to understanding God’s will?
SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE ilma’s vlog
January 20
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SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE
See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
-Ephesians 5:6-14
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In this letter, Paul warns the Ephesians of God’s wrath and judgment to all those who continue to live in darkness. He calls them “sons of disobedience.” A commentary says that “sons of disobedience” are believers before they were saved. “Sons of disobedience” is also a title given only to non-believers in the Bible, although it is possible for believers to also disobey God. However, believers do not experience the wrath of God, but they do experience God’s discipline when they sin. It speaks about man’s nature before he is born again. Before knowing Christ, men live in darkness and in sin.
In verse 7, Paul reminds all the believers that they shouldn’t have anything to do with those who are unregenerate and living in sin. In verse 8, he warns them to walk as children of light and explains that the fruit of light is goodness, righteousness and truth. One cannot experience this fruit if they choose to live in darkness and sin.
He explains to them that as they continue to be in the light, they will do what is pleasing to God instead of what they used to do which is only pleasing and gratifying themselves. He tells them not to be involved in evil and wicked deeds but instead, bring them into the light so it will be exposed. He says that darkness cannot hide in the light. Exposing them is not tolerating sin to propagate. In verse 14, Paul asks the believers to spiritually wake up, meaning, they can not regress in their spiritual growth, but grow towards living as children of light and not sons of disobedience.
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REFLECTION
• What happens when believers turn back into habitual sinning? Does that mean they lose their salvation?
IMITATE CHRIST & WALK IN LOVE ILMA’S VLOG
January 19
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IMITATE CHRIST & WALK IN LOVE
Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.3 But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God -Ephesians 5:1-5
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In this chapter, Paul gives us a clear guideline how to be imitators of Christ and how-to walk in love. Paul was appointed by Christ Himself even though he wasn’t one of the original 12 apostles, meaning, he was also Spirit led and anointed to have the revelations that the other apostles were given. I think that his guidelines for imitating Christ resonates all the revelation we get from the disciple whom Jesus loved who is John. John mostly focused his writing on “love”, so his gospel would be so close to Paul’s guidelines to walk in love. In 1 John 4:8 , we know that God is love. In 1 John 4:7 it also says that whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. And Paul said to the Romans in verse 5:8 that God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. In 1 John 4:19 John says that we love because he first loved us and in 1 John 4:7 we are asked to love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. It is no wonder why Paul gives us these pointers so we can be like Christ and be a fragrant aroma and a sacrifice to God.
Paul warns the Ephesians that sexual immorality, or any impurity or greed must never be a part of their lives, nor any kind of rubbish talk. Only thanksgiving must be spoken. Paul labels sexual immorality, impurity and greed as idolatry and anyone who engages in these acts will have no place in God’s kingdom. These words of wisdom are clear cut ways so believers can ensure walking in the Spirit and in love.
How many of us keep watch over these acts of idolatry? The world is full of corruption and many of our churches are already infiltrated by false teachings and doctrines. We need to heed Paul’s advice to watch for these things that are not pleasing aroma to God.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it very hard to imitate Christ and walk in love in this corrupt world?
BE ANGRY WITHOUT SINNING ILMA’S VLOG
January 18
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BE ANGRY WITHOUT SINNING
25 Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE OF YOU WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, because we are parts of one another. 26 BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. 29 Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
-Ephesians 4:25-32
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In this letter of Paul to the Ephesians, he gives a reminder to the believers of their responsibilities when they become a follower of Jesus. In verse 25, he stresses how we should put of falsehood. In Hebrew, “sheker” is the counterpart of falsehood, which means to deceive, to tell lies or to lie. Paul says that instead of deceptions, we are to speak only the truth to each other because we are all parts of one another. In verse 26, he explains the emotion “anger” as the opening door for the devil. It doesn’t mean that anger in itself is bad. Otherwise, why did God give humans this explosive emotion? We are given anger so that we can be stirred to do express loathe to evil and wickedness around us, not to use it for selfish reasons. Notice that Paul says “Be angry”, He didn’t say “Don’t be angry”, but he says a cautionary clause after it. There must be a time limit to your anger. You shouldn’t sleep on your anger or you open doors for the devil to steal your joy, peace and love. In verse 28, Paul instructs them on never coveting or stealing, but emphasized that one must labor with his own hands. In verse 29, he prohibits them from speaking words that will hurt or discourage others but only let encourage and words that build up those who hear it. In verse 30, he warns them of the gravity of grieving the Holy Spirit. In verse 31, Paul enumerates all the other things that needs to be rid of such as bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and malice. He closes this letter with a command to be kind, compassionate, forgiving to one another, just as Christ has given them.
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REFLECTION
• Why did Paul enumerate in detail all these things that they should get rid off?
GROW UP IN ALL ASPECTS INTO CHRIST ILMA’S VLOG
January 16
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GROW UP IN ALL ASPECTS INTO CHRIST
14As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
-Ephesians 4:14-16
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Paul addresses the issue of immaturity in the church in this letter to the Ephesians. In verse 14, he challenges the believers to grow up and give up their childish ways of wavering back and forth with their faith and how easily they fall into the tactics of unregenerate or worldly people with their craftiness and deceitfulness. In verse 15, he speaks of the importance of speaking truth in a loving and gentle way. He also wants believers to be responsible for growing themselves up in all the aspects of their lives, ensuring that they are serving Christ, who is their head. In verse 16, he reminds them that each member of the body of Christ has their own responsibility to grow themselves into the building of each other up so that the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified.
Guzik comments on “speaking the truth in love as referring to not only how we are to relate to one another in God’s family, but also to how leaders and saints are to deal with deceivers. We should deal with them in love, but never budging from the truth. He also comments on maturity is described in this chapter. It is like growing up into Jesus, who is the head. Again, this defines the direction of maturity. We never grow “independent” of Jesus, we grow up into Him.
Spurgeon says that “A church that is only united in itself, but not united to Christ, is no living church at all. You may attain to the unity of the frost-bound earth in which men and women are frozen together with the cold proprieties of aristocracy, but it is not the unity of life.”
All Christians are all called to be accountable for their growth. So many believers rely on their pastors, leaders or others to grow in the knowledge of Christ, they do not do any work to get into deeper intimacy with the Lord or contribute to the edification of the body.
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REFLECTION
• What have you done to grow and mature as a disciple of Jesus?
OFFICES IN GOD’S MINISTRY ILMA’S VLOG
January 15
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OFFICES IN GOD’S MINISTRY
9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. -Ephesians 4:9-13
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In this letter, Paul addresses the importance of the offices and leadership positions in the church, the body of Christ. He stresses the desire of God to equip these leaders so that they can bring the whole body of Christ into building up each other so that they can have the unity of faith. God wants all of his people to deepen their knowledge of Christ, which will bring them all to maturity. This means that Jesus established these offices. They are the work and appointment of Jesus, not men. Though pretenders may lay claim to them, the offices themselves are a Divine institution and not a human invention.
Sadly, many offices in the church today do not work for the unity and edification of the body so Christ may be glorified. It looks more like any other worldly organizations where the ones in leadership like apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are not living holy lives. Most spiritual leaders are living compromised lives where their agendas are given more emphasis than bringing God’s people into maturity and holiness. Gone are those days that churches are focused on bible-believing and living Christians. The church become platforms for performance-based worship, entertaining and teaching false gospels. Many leaders have forgotten the purpose of their calling to the ministry of God. They have mixed worldly systems with the church. Most of them use religion to serve their own selfish agendas and goals, mostly to edify themselves rather than God .
David Guzik comments that “There is a constant tendency for Christians to display to the world that we really aren’t so different after all. This is usually a misguided effort to gain the world’s “respect” or approval. This must be resisted at all costs, because the goal in itself is both undesirable and unachievable.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think that the offices in God’s ministry are compromised these days?
• What are our responsibilities as believers that our leaders don’t fall away?
WALK WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING ILMA’S VLOG
January 14
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WALK WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE THE CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO PEOPLE.” – Ephesians 4:1-8
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In this letter of Paul to the Ephesians we are all asked to live our lives the way God intended it to be. He guides us all to ensure that we are meek, gentle, patient and bearing one another in love and persistently being faithful to be united with God’s spirit and pursue peace at all times.
David Guzik comments that Paul spent three chapters spelling out in glorious detail all that God did for us, freely by His grace. Now he brings a call to live rightly, but only after explaining what God did for us. He says that when we really understand how much God did for us, we will naturally want to serve and obey Him out of gratitude. He further comments that a worthy walk before God will be marked by lowliness and gentleness, not a pushy desire to defend our own rights and advance our own agenda. We need this so that the inevitable wrongs that occur between people in God’s family will not work against God’s purpose of bringing all things together in Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon comments “We can understand this unity of the Spirit by understanding what it is not.” In a sermon on this text, Spurgeon pointed out some of the things that the text does not say. It does not say, “To endeavor to maintain the unity of evil, the unity of superstition, or the unity of spiritual tyranny.” It does not say, “Endeavoring to keep up your ecclesiastical arrangements for centralization.” It does not say, “Endeavoring to keep the uniformity of the Spirit.”
We have unity in Christ, meaning, all believers share one body, one Spirit, one hope, one calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one Father. In verse 7 Paul reminds us of the grace given accordingly to the same measure Christ gave us salvation. In verse 8 he says that Jesus died to set the captives free and gave gifts to people.
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REFLECTION
• How can you walk worthy of God’s calling?