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 Ephesians 6 - Paul’s Final Words

        Final words are meaningful, a last testament to what is most important.  We see this throughout Scripture (Moses at 120 years old in Deuteronomy 31, Joshua at 110 in Joshua 24, Peter when he’s up against the wall of Nero’s evil in 2 Peter, and Solomon as he summarizes the core purpose of life in Ecclesiastes).

        Christians should pay attention to what these faithful followers of God had to say.  I’d summarize the message as this: fear God and serve Him wholeheartedly (Deuteronomy 24:14).

        We can’t serve God wholeheartedly if we cling to our idols.  We must repudiate the idols.  One of the greatest challenges of the human condition (and more to the point, the Christian walk) is what we know vs. what we do.  We know we have all the resources from God to live a godly life.  But yet we live like the world.  The reason, the tragedy if you will, is our sin.  Our sinful nature pulls hard.

        Yet Paul’s final word here, much like Peter’s final word in 2 Peter, is to encourage us to grow, to mature as Christians.  To be righteous and live godly lives.

        The good news of the Bible is that we can and we will as Christ's followers escape the world’s corruption caused by our human desires (2 Peter 1:4).  But it takes intentionality.  The application of the New Testament is that we have to put some effort into it.  James says that (James 2).  He says get to bloody work!  Peter says that too.  He says to try, get on the ice and skate!  Don’t give in to the world’s laziness.  Put effort into moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love for everyone.  Effort.  Christian work ethic.

        The more we grow in Christ the more useful we are to God.  May we reject today anything that takes God’s place in our hearts.  One of the challenges for me with this passage is that sometimes I miss the meaning because of the strength of the metaphor.  That is, I can lose sight of the real power and resources available to me when I ponder arrows, shields, belts, etc.  I'm easily distracted.

        But we see clearly here what the spiritual weapons are.  They are God’s truth, righteousness, peace from the Good News of reconciliation with God, faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His power, salvation - our confidence in God’s eternal promise, the powerful word of God - it can strike through a man’s heart and soul.

        God gives us all we need to live godly lives.  We have God Almighty at our sides.  Jesus is our advocate and the Holy Spirit is our guide.

        Today’s church, just like the church 2,000 years ago is called to holiness.  We are called not to revile those who hate us but to love them.  We are called to be different than the world and to repudiate and not be destroyed by the corruption caused by human desires.

        We have the key to open every door, yet we complain that we are stuck in the basement.  All the while we are too foolish to put our hands in our pockets to grasp the key and to walk the stairs out of the dungeon.  

        Let us grasp firmly God’s gracious and strong hand today.  Jesus will pull us up and through.  He will get you through anything you are going through.  God loves you beyond measure!

        May we pray in the Spirit for our brothers and sisters in Christ.  When?  At all times today.  Stay alert.  Be strong and persistent in prayers today for all believers everywhere for God is building His church.

        Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this day.  Thank you for your love for all people.  Especially for how you love children.  May you take care of Your children today.  We pray for Your peace and Your grace.  Amen.

Arch and Jack.





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