November 2022
Deference
It can be a struggle to set aside our own wants or cultural expectations and consider others first. We see that kind of deference in the life of David in 2 Samuel 9 and in the life of Paul in Romans 14.
Imitators of God
As children of a good Father, we want to imitate Him in our lives. As we do, we will walk in love and in light.
Honesty
God values honesty, and it is a trait that is clear in the life of Jesus. His followers should live honest lives. In Acts 5 and Luke 19, we see examples of dishonesty and honesty.
Renewed
As Christians we leave the old selves behind and walk with purpose in our new lives. In the last half of Ephesians 4, Paul contrasts those two ways of living and how they affect all of us.
October 2022
Growing
“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” – Luke 2:52 Jesus is our example when it comes to growth. We should constantly be growing in our faith.
Gentleness
In our culture, gentleness is often equated with weakness. The gentleness God calls us to is not weakness at all. In the gospels, we read about many examples of the gentleness of Jesus. He is not weak in those instances where He treats people with gentleness.
Unity in the Body
Our God has always existed in a unified community. He designed us to live in unity, too. Paul explains at the beginning of Ephesians 4 what it looks like to walk in unity.
Empathy
Empathy is a trait shown by God, lived by Jesus and expected of Christians. To have empathy, it is helpful to understand the experiences of others and to be honest with ourselves about our blind spots. Who do we assume to be the hero or the villain of the stories we hear?
Rooted in Love
Because of their new identity in Christ, Paul continues his prayer for the church at Ephesus as he closes chapter 3. He wants God to give them strength and help them be rooted in love. As a result, they will be able know God better.
Spiritual Citizenship
Paul begins Ephesians 2 by reminding the church they used to be dead in sin but now have life because of God’s rich mercy. In the second half of the chapter, he reminds them they used to be outsiders and are now part of the family of God. God’s love and mercy can give us […]
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