Scripture
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.

Observation
We are to speak truthfully to one another. Anger must go; nobody should let the sun go down while they are still angry.

Thieves must steal no longer, but work for a living instead.

All forms of bitterness, anger, slander and malice should give way to kindness, compassion and forgiveness.

We must imitate God, living lives marked by love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.

Application
Following Jesus means that our lives should be transformed at the most basic level. Our relationships and attitudes to others will be radically reorganised by the power of God’s love.

The commandments Paul gives in this section are impossible in human strength alone. The good news is that we have the grace of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.

We cannot expect the Lord to do all the work, however. He will not change us if we refuse His grace. The christian life is a process of learning to allow the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, and then repenting daily of those sins. It is a partnership in which we co-operate with the Spirit’s sanctifying work.

Prayer
Thank you Lord for the grace to change my life. Amen.

Scripture

As a prisoner for the Lord then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Observation

Paul urges us to live a life in accordance with our calling as followers of Jesus Christ. We should be humble and gentle with one another, making every effort to live in unity under the one God and Father of us all.

God has given gifts to the church- apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers- to prepare God’s people for service and to build up the Body of Christ in unity and maturity.

When we become truly mature we will be growing into Christ and not listening to the vain teaching and scheming of men.

Application

We must learn to live together as christians in genuine unity. For too long, the church has been mired by denominationalism, by envy, by competitiveness, and by false teaching.

If we take this chapter seriously, we will learn to love one another regardless of worship styles and the ways we express our faith.

Most of what divides christians is the superficial and irrelevant. We must learn to be people of love.

True ministers- apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers- will be working to bring the church into unity. Only the false ministers will use their positions to divide the flock of Christ,

Prayer

Holy Spirit work in my life so that I can love my brothers and sisters. Show me how I can break down barriers to people from other churches and traditions. Amen.

Scripture

Now unto him who is able to do immensely more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

Observation

Paul prays for the church in Ephesus and for the universal church. He prays for power through the Spirit that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith.

He prays that we will dwell in love and know the unknowable- the dimensions of Christ’s love, and in that to be filled with the measure of the fullness of God.

Application

Christ’s love for us is in a sense unknowable- it is infinite, unending, unfailing, not bound in any possible way. The love of Christ is not just infinite in extent but also in quality. The human mind has no way of expressing or even understanding the implication of God’s love for us. Paul wants us to know this experientially and not just as a doctrine.

This is something that we best experience in community, “together with all the saints.” We understand the love of God as we experience it in the love of other people.

Knowing the love of Christ is not just receiving but also giving. The love of Christ is poured out upon us. How can we understand this love until we begin to love like He does, pouring love out on others, especially the ones we find least likeable?

Prayer

Lord grant me the power to grasp the height and depth, the breadth and length of your love, living in the power of love in all my relationships. Amen.

Scripture
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Observation
Before He made the world, God decided to adopt us into His family. He has poured out His grace upon us, purchasing our freedom with the blood of Christ.

Everything in the whole of creation will be brought under the authority of Christ. Because we are united with Christ we have an inheritance in Him.

God’s plan was to unite Jewish and Gentile believers together. As the sign that we belong to Him, He gave us the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of our salvation.

Application
It is so easy to underestimate God’s grace or to limit it to salvation. The fact is that God has poured out , and continues to pour out, blessing after blessing into our lives.

We were chosen from before the world began to be a part of God’s family, and He gives us the Holy Spirit as a sign of our identity in Christ. This is a guarantee that we will receive our inheritance in Him.

The overflowing abundant grace of God never runs out.

Prayer
Help me to appreciate, Lord, how great is your love for me. Amen.

Scripture

So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness towards us as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.

Observation
We were once dead in our sins, just like the rest of the world, captive to the devil. We used to live by our fleshly desires and were subject to God’s wrath.

But God reached down to us in grace, giving us life when He raised Christ from the dead. He will point to us in future ages as examples of the wealth of His grace.

We are saved by grace, not by our own deeds. He has created us in Christ to do good deeds.

Application
It is all grace!

We have not earned our salvation. God saved us by grace to be an example to future generations. That is not as impressive as it may sound- “I saved him/her from his/her sinful lifestyle so I can certainly save a lesser sinner like you!”

We are not saved BY our good deeds as so many people think. The truth is that nobody is that good! No, we are saved FOR good deeds, saved for a life of loving holy living.

The legendary sinner becomes a legendary saint, all by the grace of God.

Prayer
Lord, without your grace I can do no good thing. Without your grace I would be on the way to hell. Thank you for saving me through Jesus Christ, Amen

Scripture

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and your love for all the saints, I have never stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Observation
Paul prays constantly for the people of Ephesus. He asks that God will give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and that they may know the hope to which He has called us.

God’s power at work in us is like the force He used to raise Christ from the dead, lifting Him up to heaven where He now reigns over all things and is the head of the church.

Application
When life is overwhelming us, we can lose sight of our real purpose. Our concentration is taken up by the physical world and we lack insight into the spiritual reality.

The truth is that God’s power, the power that raised Christ from death, is at work in us. He is changing us from glory to glory, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

Even if our world feels like it is out of control, Jesus is reigning over it all, and God will bring His purposes to pass.

Prayer
Father, give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know you better. Amen.

Scripture

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Observation

We once darkness, but now we are light. Therefore we must live as children of the light and live to please the Lord.

We must have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness, except to expose them. What is exposed to the light becomes visible.

Therefore we must arise and let the light of Christ shine on us.

Application

Christians must live lives that are very different from those of unbelievers. The fruit of the Christ-filled life is righteousness, and that righteousness must shine out of us like light in the darkness.

The ways of the world are darkness. Even respectable people, people of good repute in the world, live by sin. They have no reason not to lie or deceive in business, no reason not to take up sexual relationships, and so on,

Christians must live holy lives- lives marked by the standards and character of Christ Himself.

The world pressures us to compromise, to conform to its standards. But Christ demands “No compromise!”

Prayer

Lord Jesus let your light shine through me today. May every word and deed show your righteousness. Amen.