"Chapta 4 n 5"

I've woken up this morning (as I normally do) quite early to do some bible reading over MSN with a friend. She has already done 'chapta' 4, and so I read this before continuing on to Chapter 5.

We're nearly finished the book of Ephesians. It hasn't challenged me to the point where it changes my life, I know it should do, but it hasn't - FACT.

Chapter 4, I feel, has been my favourite. It firstly talks about Unity in the Body of Christ and refreshes you in verse 2 where it states; "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Now, from being a Church goer for like since I was born, I know all these things..and have tried to changed my being to follow them; unsuccessfully. There's nothing quite like reading the words in a bible though; the very thought of seeing clarification; even if you know it's there is quite amazing.

'Living as Children of Light' was a really great section for sort of understanding how we need to change. In verse 17-24 it states; "So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and seperated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

I don't know about you, but sometimes I can see myself being so much like the Gentiles. It's really hard when you're stuck in a certain way; gossiping, slagging people off, sin, sin, sin, sin, sin. It's your way of life! But I also want to remember that God is my way of life, my only way of life - no room for the behavings of a Gentile.

The End (Of chapter 4)


Chapter 5

I read the first little bit and was like, aww that's quite sweet; Ephesians Chapter 5 vs 1-2 "Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children and live a life of love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

The next two paragraphs are quite harsh, but i realised that sometimes in life we need harsh - to sink the message in. The second paragraphs talks about how we must not even portray a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed. We shouldn't be obscene, foolish and basically be nasty to people, or gossip. The verse that really stuck out to me and I love the 4 words so much it was, "The Kingdom of God". Although we all have sinned like this in the past, I understood from the passage that if we continue living a life like this, with absolutely no remorse or acknowledgment of our sins then there is no room for us in the Kingdom of God.

Just the very phrase ; Kingdom of God, sounds so powerful and almighty and it can only but want to make you try your best to live a daily life for God, I know it makes me want to.

Verse 8 to 9 i think it really nice; "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as Children of light (for fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).

There are quite a few things that have really startled me in their harshness in this passage.
Although the following verse didn't startle me, I wanted to add it in - for a friend :P lol Verse 18 - "Do not get drunk on wine" - this doesn't just mean wine..it could mean....Vodka and irn bru perhaps? :D

The section on Wives and Husbands I feel is quite startling
"Wives submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church, his body of which he is the Saviour. Now as the Church submits to Christ, so also Wives should submit to their husbands in everything" We live in the 21st Century today and although this appears harsh in the bible, I think it's basically saying here that Wives should love their husbands also in the way it says in verse 25 that "Husbands, love you wives"

I've been enjoying Ephesians, each chapter having a different take to it. I'm not sure how to sum up the two chapters I have done today; but I do know that each and every day, we must live our lives to the highest standard in regards to our God.

Amen!