A Verse, A Comment, A Prayer, A Blessing

A Verse Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. A Comment I must admit that struggle with bitterness. Where I am at this point in my life is not where I assumed I would be when I started the journey of being an adult… For the rest of my comments, listen to the audio link at the top of this episode. A Prayer Would you...

A Verse Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lor...

A Verse Ephesians 3:11-13 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. A Comment What does the “this” in verse 11 refer to? It refers to God’s ordering of the church for the sake of His glory,...

A Verse Ephesians 3:7-10 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, s...

A Verse Ephesians 3:1-6 For this reason, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in ot...

A Verse Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling...

A Verse Ephesians 2:13-18 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reco...

A Verse Ephesians 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reco...

A Verse Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. A Comment Verse 13 is so good! It teaches us that our greatest need has been met by the greatest provision. We who were far off have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ. As we were reminded in Ephesians 2:11-12, by nature, we were alienated from God and without hope i...

The last two months have been quite a whirlwind. In the providence of God, I had the opportunity to travel to Lebanon, South Sudan, and Uganda to encourage and be encouraged by God’s work among His people. I have also lost my dear father to a sudden stroke. I officiated his funeral with my brother a little more than a week after returning from Africa. You can watch my portion of the service here b...

A Verse Ephesians 2:11-12 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. A Comment In these op...

A Verse Ephesians 2:11-12 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. A Comment Paul’s argu...

A Verse Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. A Comment Some of you are probably wondering if there is any hope for you. Some are wondering is there any hope...

A Verse Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. A Comment Of all people on the planet, Christians should not only be the most humble, but also the most hopeful...

A Verse Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. A Comment Of all people on the planet, Christians should be the most humble . If we really get it, if we unders...

A Verse Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. A Comment Paul brings his argument to a fine point in verses 8-10, giving a summary statement of the preceding m...

A Verse Ephesians 2:6-7 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. A Comment As a result of God’s grace, those who have received it have been made alive together with Christ and raised up with Him and seated in a...

A Verse Ephesians 2:4-7 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness t...

A Verse Ephesians 2:4 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,” A Comment “But God…” Two of the greatest words ever combined in God’s Word. What does this mean? It means that while we were dead in our wrongdoing, in our sin, while God could have been sharpening the sword of His judgment for us, God, in Christ, was preparing mercy for us. God was looking at the storehouses...

A Verse Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were b...

A Verse Ephesians 1:19b-23 That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over every...

A Verse Ephesians 1:18-19a I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe .  A Comment Paul wants His audience to know the power of God that is at work in them. It is Christ’s resurrection power that is at work within...

A Verse Ephesians 1:18-19a I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people , and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  A Comment In this phrase, Paul is highlighting the place of the saints in the inheritance of Christ. Not only have we received an inheritance...

A Verse Ephesians 1:18-19a I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you , the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  A Comment What is this hope? It is the hope of glory, that is, the hope of a full and final salvation in Christ Jesus. This is the hope that...

A Verse Ephesians 1:18-19a I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  A Comment Paul talks about the illuminating or enlightening work of God in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. There, he writes about the impartation of wis...