Text: Isaiah 43:18-19 18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold...
Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for...
Genesis 39:20-23 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s...
Text: Ephesians 6:5-9 Dominant Thought: The Lordship of Jesus Christ has enormous implications on our motives for...
Has your pastor ever visited your workplace? Mentioned the kind of work you do in a sermon? Given you guidance on a...
Three of my kids take piano lessons from the same teacher, so they take turns going first. They determined the order themselves several months ago. I thought it was all settled. It shouldn’t...
Years ago, I was leading a Bible study for college students. As we were looking at a passage of Scripture that spoke...
Have you ever been talking to someone who is saying good things about you, but whose tone makes you nervous?
About twenty-five years ago, I had lunch with Henri Nouwen.
I suspect that the popularity of zombies reveals that many people feel the deadness of their lives. Though they appear to be alive, they feel driven and despairing.
If dignity is fundamental, it makes sense that readers and commentators care whether Amazon and other organizations treat workers with dignity.
"Jesus believed in a reconciliation fueled by grace and motivated by a belief in the future, because of love--truth-breathed, justice-birthing, agape love," writes author and speaker Lisha Epperson.
Paul must have been sitting near an open window as he wrote to the Ephesians. Every word crackles with infinity.
Shame is a noun and a verb. Tyler Charles believes kindness might protect us and also heal others from both.
There is more than one way of seeing, isn’t there? There is the seeing our eyes do, but there is also the seeing with what Scripture calls “the eyes of the heart.”
These three questions hold extraordinary power.
Everyone is in full- time Christian ministry. Everyone is in God’s business in the marketplace.
Bob was a route salesman for Dr Pepper. He shared a story about my dad’s early days as head of a growing grocery chain. Bob set up special displays in those stores.
Of course, I would die to save my wife. But would I watch a Jane Austen movie with her instead of the big ballgame?
How do you navigate the online space as witness over argument, testimony over talking points?
Thanksgiving dinner is one of my favorite meals. I suppose it has something to do with nostalgia, happy memories, and a chance...
Ephesians 5:20 urges us to give thanks to God the Father for everything. For everything? Really? ...
On Thursday of this week, citizens of the United States will celebrate Thanksgiving, a national holiday dedicated to thanking God for his...
This section of Ephesians 5 is based on a commonsensical observation: people nourish and take care of their own bodies. Of course...
Christ, as head of the church, loved the church and gave himself up for her. But his sacrifice was not merely a demonstration of ultimate love. It also had a purpose: to make...
Just about every commentary on Ephesians labels 5:22-33 something like “Instructions for Marriage,” and for good reason. This passage focuses on the...
Ephesians 5:25 tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Verse 28 adds that husbands should “love their wives...
Ephesians 5:23 gives a reason why wives should submit to their husbands: “For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which...
I expect that readers of this reflection may respond in a wide variety of ways to its title: Wives Submit to Your Husbands. Some will be curious. Some will be hopeful. Others might...
I suppose there are some people who find it easy to submit to others, but many of us struggle with the imperative...
As we have seen, the dictionary definition of hypotassō, the Greek verb translated in Ephesians 5:21, is “subject oneself, be subjected or...
In yesterday’s reflection, we saw that the basic meaning of the verb translated in Ephesians 5:21 as “submit” is “to be subordinate,”...
Ephesians 5:21 says that we are to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” But what does this mean?
Some morning, try to get up and spend the whole day without working. Unless it is one of those hyper-rare rainy days when the only demand is a good book or all-day ball...
In yesterday’s reflection, I explained how the imperative “Submit to one another” might be disturbing to us, even as it was almost...
Ephesians’ teaching on household relationships begins with what one might call a disturbing dictate: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” In fact, the original Greek of verse 21...
If you’ve spent a lot of your life reading the Bible, as I have, you might forget that it wasn’t written directly...
Today we begin looking at a new section of Ephesians. No, I did not forget about verse 20, which encourages us to give thanks to God. I’m saving this verse for a month...
According to Ephesians 5:18-19, as we are filled with the Spirit, we will, among other things, “sing and make music from [our]...
In yesterday’s reflection, we considered the first of two “audience temptations” of worship, the temptation to consider ourselves as the primary audience...
In yesterday’s reflection, we considered an analogy from the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. He said that when it comes to worship, God...
If you were to eavesdrop on the conversations of churchgoers after a typical worship service, you’d hear comments like, “I loved the band this morning” or “The choir was a little off” or...
I grew up singing lots of wonderful songs in church, Sunday School, and youth group: “Jesus loves me, this I know … Deep and wide, deep and wide … Trust and obey, for...
I believe that the infamous “worship wars” never should have happened. Which wars are these? We Christians have been fighting over worship...
What are psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit? And what does it mean to speak to one another in this way?
When I was a teenager, I began to hear about Christians who were “Spirit-filled.” Southern California was a major seedbed for a...
This is the fourth reflection in a short series responding to the question: How can I be filled with the Spirit? Today...
In last Thursday’s reflection, we noted that the imperative of Ephesians 5:18 is passive. It does not mean, “Fill yourself with the...
How can we “be filled” with the Spirit of God? There is no magic formula to be discovered here, no secret words...
After warning us not to get drunk on wine, Ephesians 5:18 adds a simple imperative: “Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” That...
Ephesians 5:15-18 is structured by three parallel injunctions. Don’t be unwise; be wise. Don’t be foolish; understand God’s will. Don't get drunk...
Sometimes we can get stuck in the “don’ts.” As parents, we can sound like a broken record with our children: “Don’t break that. Don’t touch that. Don’t go in the street. Don’t talk...
Alcohol abuse was a major problem in the first century. This hasn’t changed in twenty centuries. In fact, it may have gotten...
In yesterday’s reflection, we began to consider why we should avoid drunkenness. Ephesians 5:18 answers this question by pointing to one result...
Ephesians 5:18 states clearly, “Do not get drunk on wine.” Of course, this verse does not imply that it’s fine to get...
Growing up in a conservative Christian church, I sometimes heard the ditty, “I don’t drink, smoke, or chew, or go with girls...
As a pastor, I have often been asked, “How can I know God’s will for my life?” This question was presented to...
When I read Ephesians 5:17, I hear echoes from my past. “Mark, don’t be foolish,” my mom would say. Or, perhaps she’d declare: “Mark, use your head.” I’d hear these exhortations when I...
I cannot leave Ephesians 5:15-16 without sharing a bit of Gandalfian wisdom (or, if you prefer, wisdom from J. R. R. Tolkien...
In last Thursday’s reflection, we investigated the meaning of the phrase “the days are evil” in Ephesians 5:16. We saw that it’s not so much that literal spans of time are evil as...
As I sat down at my computer to write today’s reflection, I began by typing in the date: “9/11 …” Before my fingers touched the keys for the year, 2014, I felt a...
Today is the final part of this mini-series responding to the question: What helps you pay attention...
Our lives are so rushed, so filled with activities and information, that we often don’t pay attention...
Last week, we began focusing on the first part of Ephesians 5:15, “Be very careful, then, how...
In yesterday’s reflection, we focused on the first part of Ephesians 5:15, “Be very careful, then, how...
I love to hike. Hiking is my favorite hobby, my favorite form of exercise, and my favorite...
Have you ever been reading along in a good novel when, for a few days or weeks, your attention was called elsewhere...
When I was in high school, I became enthralled by a statement attributed to the Greek philosopher Socrates. In the Apology, written...
I follow a simple rule of thumb in my life: Don't fall asleep while driving. This is common sense, of course. But something about sitting in a car, even while I am driving...
When I was a teenager, needing ample sleep I rarely got, waking me up in the morning was rather like raising the dead.
When people see the fruit of the light in us, the deeds of darkness will be exposed as fruitless and empty. What is the goal of this exposing?
In yesterday's reflection, I suggested that we are to "expose" the "fruitless deeds of darkness" not by...
Once we were Gentiles living in darkness. But, we who have become children of light through Christ...
What does it mean to expose the deeds of darkness? How should we do this?
As Christians, we are "light in the Lord" and "children of light" (5:8). Yet we continue to live in a world of...
Before we received God's grace through faith, we lived in the world of darkness. In fact, we "were once darkness."
Today, I want to reflect a bit more on the process of discovering which actions are pleasing to God (and, therefore, which...
As I reflect on this passage from Ephesians, I find myself more and more impressed by something I might easily have taken for granted. Verse 10 says that we are to "find out...
Today, I want to focus our attention on one little word, a word that could be easily overlooked, a word that has the potential to change your life. I'm talking about the word "all."
I began yesterday's reflection with a simple confession: I want to live a fruitful life. I suggested that you want to do the same.
I want to live a fruitful life. I want my life to matter, to make a difference in people's lives and in our world. I expect this is true for you, also.
Last Thursday, I used the illustration of a lighthouse with its many prisms to help explain how you and I can be light in the world. We transmit the self-generating light of Jesus...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw how the imagery of darkness and light reflects Old Testament themes, beginning with creation and continuing through...
By using the imagery of darkness and light in this way, Ephesians weaves us into the biblical story, a story in which...
"Once upon a time . . . ." How do you feel when you read this phrase? Excited? Intrigued? Invited into an adventure? For centuries, stories have begun with this familiar phrase.
What do we mean when we say actions are right or wrong? What is the nature of the good? Is morality rational...
Have you ever asked yourself the question: Why be good? Perhaps you found yourself doing battle with enchanting temptation. The magnetism of sin was drawing you into its clutches.
Ephesians 5:6 delivers bad news. God's wrath is coming "on those who are disobedient." What should we think of this? How should...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw that "empty words" are those lacking truth. Such words promise life but lead to death. They appear to be wise but lead us in the path of foolishness. ...
As I considered Ephesians 5:6, I was struck by the phrase "empty words." This seems like such an apt phrase in our world today. Yet, obviously, empty words were a matter of concern...
What is your heart's desire? What do you want more than anything else in the world? What do you long for most of all? ...
When you first read Ephesians 5:5, you might wonder if this verse is a threat. Is Paul threatening us with exclusion from Heaven if we engage in sexual sin or greed? Is this...
"Words matter. So make your words count." ...
During my tenure at Irvine Presbyterian Church, the men of the church went on an annual retreat. Yes, there was plenty of...
I grew up in a culture that frowned upon swearing. In my family, I wasn't even supposed to say things like "Shut...
As we saw in yesterday's reflection, Ephesians 5:3 insists that sexuality immorality must not even be named among God's holy people. We who have been set apart by God for relationship with him and...
One of my favorite traffic signs appears in particularly busy sections of New York City. It reads: "Don't Even THINK of Parking Here." Not only does such a sign dissuade one from parking...
In yesterday's reflection, I noted that the transition in Ephesians 5:1-3 from love in the cross of Christ to the prohibition of...
The transition from Ephesians 5:2 to Ephesians 5:3 can feel like whiplash. One moment, we're asked to imitate God's love, remembering Christ's...
Before we leave Ephesians 5:1-2, I would like to say something about a recently published book that has received an undue amount of attention in the media. How Jesus Became God is the...
Several years ago I had the privilege of visiting Jerusalem. As a part of this trip, I walked along the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis in Latin, also called the Via Dolorosa...
For years, people told my son, Nathan, that he was "just like his dad." I remember someone saying to me, "Oh my gosh! Nathan is a mini-Mark." His resemblance to me wasn't just...
According to Ephesians 5:1, we are to "Follow God's example." The Greek underlying this imperative reads more literally, "Be imitators of God."...
At one time or another, I expect you've seen a mime. Perhaps it was on television or in a crowded square of a cosmopolitan city. It seems like every time I'm walking around...
In our reflections before Holy Week (Part 1 and Part 2), we were considering the question: Why should you forgive someone who...
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! ...
In yesterday's reflection on Ephesians 4:32, we saw that we are to forgive others, not only in obedience to Scripture, but also...
Have you ever wondered why you should forgive someone who wronged you? I expect you have. I know I have. To be...
In 1969, country singer Glen Campbell released a hit single called "Try a Little Kindness." The catchy chorus urged, "You've got to...
Last Thursday, we began what I've called a "modest moral inventory" based on Ephesians 4:31-32. The first verse of this passage mentions...
Living beyond mediocrity is rooted in our identity in Christ. It also involves bringing our very best to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, and our communities. ...
Step 4 of the 12-step program created by Alcoholics Anonymous reads: "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves." Those who...
In Monday's reflection we considered the question: Can you give joy to God? If your words (and deeds) can grieve the Spirit...
In Tuesday's reflection, we saw that our words can grieve the Holy Spirit. Yesterday, we discovered one reason for this surprising truth...
Yesterday, we saw that our words can grieve the Holy Spirit. When we use "unwholesome talk," rather than choosing words that build...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw that our words have power either to hurt others or to build them up. We were encouraged...
Hard Work, Good Work: Part 6 ...
Hard Work, Good Work: Part 5 ...
Hard Work, Good Work: Part 4 ...
Hard Work, Good Work: Part 3 ...
Hard Work, Good Work: Part 2 ...
Hard Work, Good Work: Part 1 ...
The What, How, and Why of Anger: Part 6 ...
The What, How, and Why of Anger: Part 5 ...
The What, How, and Why of Anger: Part 4 ...
When you read, "In your anger do not sin," your soul cries out, "Yes. That's fine. But how? How can I avoid...
The What, How, and Why of Anger: Part 2 ...
The What, How, and Why of Anger: Part 1 ...
There are lots of excellent reasons to speak the truth. For starters, we could say that the Ten Commandments tell us not to bear false witness (Exod. 20:16). Then, we have Ephesians 4:25 that...
If you've been reading these reflections for a while, you may remember that a couple of months ago I was examining Ephesians...
In yesterday's reflection, I began to consider Ephesians 4:25: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood...
My last few reflections focused on Ephesians 4:22-24. The main point of this passage is that we...
Children love to dress up in their parents' clothing. I can still remember when I was a young boy, walking around wearing my dad's giant shoes and humongous coat. When I put on...
In the classic stereotype of conservative Christianity, Christians are people who "Don't drink. Don't chew. Or go with girls who do." You might add to this list of don'ts: "Don't swear. Don't...
In the last two reflections on Ephesians 4:23 (Monday, Tuesday), we saw that renewal is God's ongoing work in us. We do...
In yesterday's reflection, we focused on the form of the verb in Ephesians 4:23: "[You were taught] to be made new in...
Okay, I'll admit that the title of this reflection won't be compelling to most of my readers. A few grammar nerds may...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw that the old self we are to put off as Christians is...
In yesterday's reflection, we wondered if, when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we must change everything about our lives. The...
In yesterday's reflection, I noted that becoming a Christian isn't a matter merely of adding a few...
No doubt you've heard the saying "Clothes make the man." Many attribute it to Mark Twain. But, in fact, he inherited this saying from others, adding his own unique ironic twist: "Clothes make the...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw that Christianity is so much more than just good morals and Jesus is so much more than...
I'm sure you've heard someone describe Christianity as good morals and Jesus as a good moral teacher...
One time, when I was a college pastor, a young woman I'll call Toni challenged my teaching that the Christian life leads...
In 1999, American television audiences became transfixed by a new game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Tens of millions of viewers watched as contestants tried to answer the right combination...
When our core identity is determined, not by what we do for a living, but by our...
Christian faith not only shows us how to live and teaches us how to think. It also...
If we set aside worldly ways of thinking about work and embrace God's vision, we will be...
Ephesians 4:17 shows that the Christian life is not just a matter of how we act. It...
In your work experience, which common behaviors are plainly incompatible with faithful Christian living?
There are behaviors common to non-Christian folk that we should avoid. And, if we once practiced those...
Is Christianity primarily a matter of doing, thinking, or being? Chances are you know the "right answer."...
When Linda and I first moved into our home in Irvine, California, we found ourselves wishing that a few things about the...
With today's reflection, we finish an extended series on Christian maturity. For several weeks, we have considered how we are to "grow...
In these few reflections, we have seen that growing up in Christ depends on Christ. He is the head from which the body grows to maturity. He is the one who supplies what...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw that all spiritual growth, whether of individual Christians or the body of...
As you may recall, in the past couple of months of reflections, we have been focusing on Ephesians 4:11-16, seeking to learn...
The NIV translation of Ephesians 4:15 paraphrases the Greek text in a way that makes sense, but that hides one of the...
As you may recall, before the holidays we were focusing on the phrase in Ephesians 4:15—"speaking the truth in love." We saw...
Even as we once put off our old self and put on our new self, we are to choose to live into the new each day. At times, we fall back into our...
Today is the last day of the year. No, this reflection was not written for December 31. And, no, I have not...
According to Ephesians 4:15, it is through "speaking the truth in love" that we will grow up as Christians. In recent reflections...
In yesterday's reflection, we began to consider what it means to speak the truth in love. This is not a matter of...
So far, in our close reading of the phrase "speaking the truth in love," we have seen that our words matter, that...
A few days ago, we began a close reading of a crucial phrase in Ephesians 4:15, "speaking the truth in love." I...
In yesterday's reflection, we considered the implications of the verb "speaking." We were reminded of the fact that our words matter to...
It's a little dangerous to suggest that one passage of Scripture is more important than another, given the fact that all of...
Before we leave Ephesians 4:14, I want to offer a couple additional thoughts on spiritual babies and how they can become mature in Christ. ...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw that Paul shifts from talking about the growth of the church as a whole to focusing on...
Growing up in a family of four children, there were times when my siblings and I would throw selfish fits. Perhaps we had to share our Halloween candy when we didn't want to...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw that the church as the body of Christ is to reach "the perfect man," that is, the...
According to most English translations of Ephesians 4:13, we are to "become mature." That's what the NIV says. The NRSV says we're...
In yesterday's post, we focused on "the faith that leads to unity and growth." Today, we will attend to the next phrase...
In yesterday's reflection, we observed that the body of Christ is to grow up "until we all reach unity in the faith...
Last Friday, we reflected on the fact that our growth as the body of Christ entails growing...
If you've been reading these Daily Reflections for a while, you may recall that in September we spent several days reflecting on Paul's exhortation to "Make every effort to keep the unity of the...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw that Christian growth as pictured in Ephesians 4:11-16 is mainly corporate. Though individual believers are to "no...
If we think about growing up in Christ, if Christian maturity enters our minds, chances are we envision our own, individual growth...
I was the oldest of four children in my family of origin. For the most part, my siblings and I got along reasonably well. To be sure, there were times when I used...
I distinctly remember one of the first times I wanted to grow up. My family was visiting Disneyland, and we were going...
What is the purpose of Christian ministry? What is the purpose of your ministry as one of Christ's ministers? ...
As we have seen, Ephesians 4:11-12 reveals that all of God's people are ministers. Pastors and other church leaders are the "coaches" who equip their members for ministry in the church and in the...
Before we move on from Ephesians 4:11-12, I want to devote one more reflection to the challenge and opportunity of this passage...
In the last several days, we have focused on Ephesians 4:11-12. These verses teach that all of God's people are ministers. These ministers are to be equipped by pastors and other church leaders for...
Sometimes a comma can make all the difference in the world. C
What are your expectations for your pastor? To what extent are your expectations shaped by the truth of Ephesians 4:11-12?
Who are the ministers of Jesus Christ? As I explained in yesterday's reflection, most Christians would answer this question by pointing to...
When I was growing up in the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, I knew who the ministers were.
These days, you can read dozens of books on church leadership. You can attend dozens of conferences each year that will give...
When Christians talk about "spiritual gifts," we usually think of special abilities given by God to each of us so that we might serve God and others in the power of his spirit...
As we have seen in recent reflections, one way we live out our calling as God's people is by being zealous to...
As we saw in yesterday's reflection, if we are to live out our divine calling, then we will "make every effort to...
God has called us to be his people, his beloved children. He has also called us to participate in his creative, redemptive...
In my last post, I suggested that Paul begins to explain how we live out our calling...
In another post, I confessed my surprise over where Paul begins as he urges us to live...
For the last several days, we have focused on the exhortation in Ephesians 4:1. We have seen that individually and together, we...
When we read Ephesians 4:1, we hear this verse as if it speaks to us personally. We feel personally, individually urged to live a life worthy of the calling we have each received...
As an ordained pastor, nobody would flinch if I said I have been called to my line of work. We're familiar with the notion that clergy have a calling. But could this also...
We don't hear the language of calling very often in common speech anymore.
We tend to use the language of calling in two ways. In secular terms, "calling" can be the equivalent of "profession" or "vocation." (In fact, "vocation" comes from the Latin word vocatio, which...
When I was in my early twenties, I began to sense that God was leading me to enter the ordained ministry in the Presbyterian church. When I shared this with church leaders, they...
It must have happened a thousand times during my childhood. I'd be out playing with my friends in the early evening when...
Today, we return to our prayerful reading of Ephesians, picking up where we left off in July. As you may recall, we...
Today, we come to the end of the first half of Ephesians. Throughout many months, we have been reflecting our way through...
As we have considered Ephesians 3:20, we have seen that God "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or...
I'll never forget the very first time I drove a motorized vehicle. My friend's dad had just bought a motorcycle for riding off-road. It wasn't anything particularly powerful. As I recall, it was a...
We have now come to a biblical passage that has made a huge difference in my life. In 1991, when I began...
Last year, my friend Gaines did something either very heroic or very ludicrous. He was a programmer at Echo Valley, the part of Laity Lodge Youth Camp that serves teenagers. In this role, Gaines...
In Ephesians 3:18, Paul prays that we might "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."...
In Ephesians 3:18, Paul prays that we would have the power "to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."
When I was in school, I was taught to avoid mixed metaphors. A mixed metaphor combines two metaphors in a way that...
Almost exactly fifty years ago, I went forward at a Billy Graham crusade in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. One might truly say I responded to the invitation to become a Christian or...
"If you want to be successful, you need to discover your inner power. You need to find the strength that is hidden within you. You need to believe in yourself. If you have...
Today's reflection will offer my final thoughts on how the church—including you—can reveal the manifold wisdom of God to the world (and...
Today is Independence Day in the United States. On this day, commonly called The Fourth of July, we Americans celebrate the signing...
Human beings and, indeed, the power that fills the cosmos, will not be inclined to believe our message unless they see evidence...
How can the church make God's wisdom known to the world and, indeed, to the whole cosmos? And, on a personal note...
When I was young, I loved watching Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color on television. Though I enjoyed this show while at...
Ephesians 3:10 reveals God's intent to make known his "manifold wisdom" through the church "to the rulers...
In yesterday's reflection, we discovered a surprising twist in the mystery story of God's plan to restore and unify all things: "through...
Ever since I was young and devoured the Hardy Boys mysteries books, I have loved a good...
My friend John is a fine pastor. He teaches God's Word accurately and applicably. He shepherds his flock with wisdom and compassion. He seeks to live his faith each day and does so...
In our translation, Ephesians 3:8 refers to "the boundless riches of Christ." The original Greek adjective, translated here as "boundless," is an...
Like millions of people throughout the world, I became a devoted fan of Downton Abbey. This PBS drama tells the story of an aristocratic British family in the first decades of the twentieth century...
Anytime you hear a noun followed by "of mysteries," you expect it to be filled with intrigue and excitement. Whether it's the "land of mysteries" or "the hall of mysteries" or the "department of...
In the first two chapters of Ephesians, Paul paints in broad strokes a picture of God's saving, unifying work in the cosmos...
As you may know, I was Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church in Southern California from 1991 through 2007. In my first years as pastor of this fine church, I had the privilege of being...
In the first-century Mediterranean world, people thought they knew where the gods lived when they were on earth. The gods dwelled in temples, holy places set apart for them and the rituals...
Do you ever get overwhelmed by the choices available to you? It's easy for us to take...
Have you ever been present when people become citizens of a country? Perhaps you were an immigrant who became a citizen of a country. Or perhaps you attended a naturalization ceremony in support of...
"Consequently..." Every time I hear or read this word, I am transported back to junior high school. I'm sitting in my ninth grade Spanish class, listening to my teacher say the word "consequently"...
One of the most common objections to orthodox Christian faith goes something like this: "My big problem with Christianity is the Trinity. This doctrine just doesn't make sense to me. It was made up...
When I was a young boy, one of my favorite photos was a picture of John Kennedy, Jr., hiding under his father's desk.
According to Ephesians 2:17, Christ came as the preacher of peace. When we try to unpack the meaning of this claim, we might at first think of the literal preaching of Jesus. He...
In yesterday's reflection, I began to answer the question, "Why did Christ tear down the 'wall' separating Jews from Gentiles?" Ephesians 2:1...
In the last two reflections, we saw that Christ tore down the "dividing wall" between Jews and Gentiles through his death on...
In yesterday's reflection, we saw that Christ destroyed the wall that divided Jews from Gentiles, thus bringing peace and making both groups...
On June 12, 1987, Ronald Reagan, the President of the United States, stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. In the speech he delivered to more than 40,000 Germans, the President...
Ephesians 2:14 begins with a bold proclamation: "For he himself is our peace." In context, the "he" is Christ, whose blood brought the Gentiles near to God and God's people (2:13). The Greek of...
When I was young, I loved superheroes. (Okay, I still do. I'll admit it.) I would sit entranced in front of my family's black and white Motorola television, watching the Adventures of Superman,...
In the last decade, we have witnessed the rise of the "new atheists." Led by Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and folks like them, atheism has received considerable attention in...
Every recent survey of American religious belief and practice testifies to the fact that Americans are becoming less "religious." We are less...
If you've ever experienced being left out, you know how unpleasant this can be. Perhaps, when you were growing up, you didn't fit with the "cool kids" at school. Or, perhaps you feel...
In our study of the first part of Ephesians 2, we saw that God's salvation by grace through faith includes far more than a ticket to Heaven after death. In fact, God saves...
When we began our devotional study of Ephesians 2:1-10, I mentioned that I felt a sense of excitement similar to what I'd...
Ephesians 2:10 reveals that we have been "created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us...
In yesterday's reflection, we considered the first phrase of Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's handiwork." Today, we will reflect upon some...
The first phrase of Ephesians 2:10 reads, "For we are God's handiwork" (NIV). Other translations say that we are God's "accomplishment" (CEB), "workmanship" (ESV, KJV), or "masterpiece" (NLT). The...
Today, we come to the final verse in the passage we have been studying so carefully. Verse 10 reads: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which...
I love hearing people boast about God.
In Ephesians 2:9, after saying that salvation by grace through faith is "not by works," Paul adds, "so that no one can...
As we have seen in the past several reflections on Ephesians 2, Paul is exceedingly clear that salvation comes to us from...
In yesterday's reflection, I wrote that faith, though our human response to God's grace, is also in some way a gift from God.
In last Friday's reflection, I suggested that the Greek grammar of Ephesians 2:8 shows us that the "gift of God" is not...
As we read Ephesians 2:8 in English, we are not surprised to find the word "gift" in the last part of the verse: "it is the gift of God." After all, Paul often...
Over the last several days, we have been paying close attention to the first part of Ephesians 2:8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith." We have seen that...
Ephesians 2:8 seems clear enough. According to this verse, we are saved by grace, through faith. God extends salvation to us as...
If salvation comes by grace, it wouldn’t make much sense for God to foist it upon us. Some theological positions argue for...
In yesterday’s reflection, we considered the possibility that some people might be insulted by the good news that salvation comes only by...
In yesterday’s reflection, we considered the fact that we have been saved by God’s grace. In the classic Latin phrase of the...
When I was in school, I was encouraged to avoid the passive voice in my writing. Why? Because immature uses of the...
In the past few days, I have been examining in detail the verb “to be saved” as...
Last week, we began focusing on Ephesians 2:8, using the question: What does it mean to be...
In yesterday's reflection, we began to consider the meaning of the phrase "For it is by grace you have been saved." We...
Ephesians 2:8 proclaims great news: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith." Actually, it would be more accurate...
What are the most important words you have ever heard? When I think back over my life, I remember words such as...
Each year, I give up something for Lent. When I was a young girl, mom and I would give up chocolate, and every year, at midnight, the moment it became Easter, my mom...
In yesterday's reflection, I continued to look closely at Ephesians 2:6, which says that we have already been "raised up with Christ"...
In the last couple of days, we have been wondering about the teaching in Ephesians 2:6 that God "raised us up with...
Have you ever needed mercy? I expect you have. Maybe you needed mercy when you were pulled over for speeding but hoped to avoid a traffic ticket. Perhaps you made a terrible mistake...
Throughout the past two weeks, we've been hearing the bad news of our condition outside of Christ. We were in bondage to sin, Satan, and the God-opposing power of the world. As we...
When we began our devotional study of Ephesians 2, I warned you that we'd run into a lot of bad news. So...
It's not uncommon for Christians to think of reality as having three layers. The top layer is Heaven, the place of God...
One of my favorite novels is Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo. I was inspired to read this lengthy book (over 1200 pages) by the musical, which I first saw onstage in 1991. The...
In yesterday's reflection, we focused on the glorious sovereignty of Jesus Christ, whom God the father has enthroned "far above all rule...
Perhaps one of the best things to happen among Christians in the last few decades is that we have come to know...
That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at...
Have you ever been in a prayer meeting when someone sneaks in some preaching into a prayer? I have, more times than I'd like to count. I think, for example, of a time...
In yesterday's reflection, I considered the implications of Paul's enthusiastic use of language when he prays that we will know God's power...
Words are fantastic tools for communication. But, sometimes our words fail us. When someone has done something unusually wonderful for us, "Thank...
In yesterday's reflection, I began considering Paul's prayer that we might know "the riches of [God's] glorious inheritance in his holy people."...
Periodically, I get emails proclaiming good news. I have received a glorious inheritance. Someone formerly unknown to me has died and left...
Hope is in short supply these days. In this morning's newspaper, I read about growing tensions in the Middle East and the...
In Ephesians 1:17-19, Paul prays that the recipients of his letter might know the hope that comes in response to God's calling. As we realize that God has called us to share in...
Today, we are in the first week of Advent, the Christian season of the year that helps us prepare for celebrating the...
In recent reflections, we have been focusing on Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23. After giving thanks for the recipients of his letter, he prays that they would grow in their knowledge of God and...
Recently, we have focused on Paul's expressions of thanksgiving in Ephesians 1:16. I encouraged you to think of the days prior to Thanksgiving Day as a season for gratitude. Our reflections from...
As you may recall, I have suggested that we set aside the two weeks prior to Thanksgiving Day in the United States...
In English, we sometimes say "I'll be sure to remember you in prayer." This literally means "I will pray for you." But it also suggests that I will not forget to pray for...
In Ephesians 1:15-16, Paul tells the recipients of the letter that he gives thanks for them, in part because of their "love...
As we saw in Wednesday's reflection, faith is one of the essential elements of the Christian life, something you'd be sure to include if you were to summarize Christian living "in a nutshell." But...
Today is All Saints Day, a holy day recognized by the Catholic Church and, in various ways, by various Protestant denominations. Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the Sunday of All Saints on...
The phrase "in a nutshell" means something like "in a very brief summary" or "in very few words." Some scholars trace the English use of this phrase to William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. In Act 2,...
About five years ago, I heard a phrase that I had never heard before: "earnest money." When...
These days, many things can pressure us to doubt the truth of the Gospel, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ...
A few days ago, we began to consider how Ephesians 1:12 answers the question: Why do you exist? The succinct answer in this verse is: You exist for the praise of God's glory...
Why do you exist? Of course, there's a historical and biological answer to that question. You exist because you were conceived by your birth parents. You exist because your mother gave birth to you...
As we have seen, God's plan for the cosmos is to "bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ" (1:10). In the opening verses of Ephesians, this unity can...
I have spent the last three reflections focusing on the "mystery" of God's will, his plan "to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ" (1:10). Before I move...
Today's passage reveals that God has "made known to us the mystery of his will." He did this willingly, with delight. This mystery is focused in Christ, just like the rest of God's...
A few days ago, we considered the fact that, in Christ, God has revealed the "mystery of his will" (The Mystery Revealed, Part 1, Part 2). Yet, even as we celebrated the fact of God's revelation,...
When we hear the word "mystery," you might be inclined to think of a book or movie that is based around a secret. The story gives us clues to the secret, but it...
I love a good mystery. This is true ever since I was a boy, when I devoured every one of the Hardy Boys mystery stories. (And when I ran out of the Hardy...
In an earlier reflection, I explained that the eulogy in Ephesians 1:3-14 is actually one long sentence in Greek, comprising 202 words. This is one of the most complex sentences in the whole Bible,...
Today, we return to the Letter to the Ephesians. If you've joined the Daily Reflections in the last month, I should explain that I began a close study of Ephesians in June, the...
The more we allow God's Word to shape our relationship with him, the more we reflect upon the wonder of the cross...
I didn't really learn English grammar until I was in tenth grade. My English teacher, Mr. Bottaro, was a stickler for correct...
Mention the word "predestination" among Christians and you're likely to get strong, diverse responses. For some in the Calvinist/Reformed tradition, you'll get a cheer, because predestination is...
I thought about my son, Nathan, before he was born. I also prayed for him well before I knew that "he" was...
In more than a thousand reflections, I have never before printed such a large portion of the biblical text. Usually, as you know, I focus on one or perhaps two verses. But, today...
In common English, we use the word "saint" in several different senses.
As a pastor, I have often had people come to talk with me about finding God's will for their lives. Usually, they...
Transcript John was a goal-setter—and he’d set his cap on a position in the London branch. Besides excellent work, he’d built relationships…gained strong experience. Sure enough, in a few short years a promotion...
There is a type of person in this world who can have long serious discussions about what zombies represent in horror movies...
Whenever people live or work together, they need to practice forgiveness because we humans are imperfect. No group can function long before...
In 1814 an American lawyer, held on a Royal Navy vessel, viewed Britain’s assault on Baltimore.
"When the fullness of time had come, God . . . " ...
"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound"—so begins one of the world's best-loved hymns. The song-writer's story is also amazing. In the mid-1700s, John Newton was an embittered man and captain of a...
What is the place of our work in the grand scheme of things? Ephesians gives a new perspective, not only about God but also about ourselves.
Full Christianity: Doing, Thinking, and Being (Click here to read) In this daily reflection from The High Calling, Mark Roberts considers how the command to "no longer live as the Gentiles do" might...
God's restoring work involves human beings both as recipients of grace and as participants in the work.
Full Christianity: Doing, Thinking, and Being (Click Here to Read) In this daily reflection fromThe High Calling, Mark Roberts considers how the...
Among the practical exhortations in Ephesians 4–6, two passages deal specifically with work-related concerns. The first has to do with the purpose...
"Our Work and Our Character" by Dr. Timothy Keller (Click to listen) The second practical consideration is relationships. Our calling as Christians...
Find Encouragement for Getting Through the Work Week in the Book of Ephesians (Click to Listen) The letter to the Ephesians encourages...
It is cruel for a master to force a slave to choose between obedience to the master and obedience to Christ. Therefore...
Only a few verses of Ephesians deal precisely with the workplace and even these are directed at thieves, slaves, and masters. But when we glimpse how God is restoring all of creation through...
Verse Theme Galatians 2:19b-20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ...
Decision-making is a relationship issue First and foremost, decision-making for the Christian is a relationship issue. Often the reason we have so many problems discerning God’s leading is that we just aren’t close...
Every time a person does something that they experience as enjoyable or satisfying and done well, they reveal a certain pattern of...
Because of our involvement with numerous Christian organizations and churches, we both have had occasion over the years to see their application...
Do you wonder if God has anything to say about your work? Explore key verses from each...
The letters of the New Testament offer many examples of modern workplace dilemmas. These letters can come alive if students are taught to see their current-day application. Here are some of the issues...
Full Christianity: Doing, Thinking, and Being (Click here to read) In this daily reflection from The High Calling Mark Roberts considers how...
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