Dec 8 - Ephesians 4-6
Ephesians
1I 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 parts of the earth?10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.17Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.19They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.20But that is not the way you learned Christ!--21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,27and give no opportunity to the devil.28Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.5For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.7Therefore do not associate with them;8for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart,20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.22Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.23For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,26that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,27so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,30because we are members of his body.31"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."32This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.33However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.2"Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),3"that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,6not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,7rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,8knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.9Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.21So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.24Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.