Tools - Armor 5

Matthew10:18-20

Looking at the armor of God that we should put on we can see all of these items as something external.  The belt, the shield, the helmet, the breastplate are all worn on the outside.  The sword is something we wield with our hands and our feet must be fitted with something external.

If we will be effective Christians, if we will be true children of God equipped to do battle with the evil of the world we need more than just gear that we wear on the outside.  We need something on the inside to give us ability.

In today’s passage Jesus is giving some warning and advice to his disciples, preparing them for the troubles they will face.  What can they expect?  What confidence should they have?  Who will assist them?

We know from the Book of Acts and some of the letters that follow that the followers of Jesus were indeed put through some difficult times.  They were arrested and imprisoned on a number of occasions.  They were frequently brought out before a crowd to be ridiculed and questioned about their activities.

While we may not be faced with the threat and worry of arrest, we are likely to be faced with opportunities to bear witness to our faith in public.  We may have people ask us questions about our faith – not because we are on trial but because they are curious.

Like the disciples we need to face each situation and opportunity with confidence.  We do not need to fear or worry about what we might encounter.  We are equipped with the armor of God to protect us and give us ability.  And more than that the Holy Spirit will be with us to give us the words we need to share our faith story and to stand up against any criticism and doubt from others.

If we can maintain a relationship with God and invite the Holy Spirit to be part of who we are we will be given more than the armor of God.  We will have the Spirit within us to give us ability.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  What can remind you that the Holy Spirit is with you in all things?

Tools - Armor 4

Luke18:1-7

After encouraging the believers to wear the armor of God Ephesians concludes with the encouragement to pray in all occasions.  We may have all the pieces of what we need to face the evils and temptations of the world, but if we do not maintain that relationship with God through prayer –a constant communication with the Almighty – we can remain ineffective.  It is prayer that spurs our faith into powerful life.

Jesus taught about the importance of prayer and the importance of a correct attitude in prayer.  Who are the characters in this parable?  What did the widow want?  What did the judge do?  Why?  What comparison is made in verses 6 and 7?

The parables Jesus used to teach are wonderfully simple in their story but incredibly deep in their meaning.  The parable of the persistent widow is no exception.

A widow wants justice against an enemy and she enlists the influence and authority of a judge.  The problem is that the judge has no faith, no belief in right and wrong, and so seems unmoved by the pleas of the widow.

Eventually the judge decides that he will be certain the widow will get the justice she seeks.  His motivation is not the knowledge of what is right.  Instead, he will act because he does not want to hear the widow beg him any more.

Naturally, the story has a deeper meaning that applies to faith.  It is a story to encourage the believer to be persistent in prayer.  We must pray on all occasions (Ephesians 6:18).  But are we to pray to simply get our way, to tire God with our begging?

No.  In verse 6 Jesus instructs us to listen to what the unjust judge says.  His motivation was simply to have some peace and quiet.

Now Jesus follows up with verse 7 – “will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones?”  The statement about God is in contrast to the judge.  The judge acted with indifference and selfish motivation.  God, on the other hand, will act out of mercy and love.  He will eagerly hear our prayer and provide for us.

We may not feel adequate even when we put on the armor of God.  Just because we have the equipment doesn’t mean we know how to use it.  But if we remain in a right relation with God, if we pray to God in every occasion God will empower us to overcome the troubles and strife of the world.  He will enable us to effectively use the armor of God.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  Does your prayer life need to improve with frequency or sincerity?

Tools - Armor 3

Ephesians6:16-17

There are two types of equipment for soldiers and peace-keepers, such as police.  There is protective gear, those things intended to maintain their safety, and there is that gear intended to be used to have an effect.  The same is true for each of us as soldiers for Christ.

What additional piece of armor is mentioned in verse 16?  What does it help us do?  What pieces of armor are listed in verse 17?

As we gain all the equipment we need to be the Christians we are called to be, Ephesians adds three final pieces.  The first is the shield of faith.  As we step forward to live a life of holiness we will face attacks.  We will be attacked as being narrow-minded.  We will be attacked and criticized for being different from those around us.

Like the breastplate of righteousness, our faith is that concept that protects us as we confront the evils of the world.  Our faith will keep us safe from the temptations and lures of the human nature.  Our faith will guard us against the assaults and criticisms of those who do not understand.

As a helmet is designed to protect our head so that we are able to think clearly in any situation, we are encouraged to put on the helmet of salvation.  Knowing that we are saved by Christ, that we have been claimed by God and rescued from a life of hopelessness will help us to face all situations with the proper way of thinking.  No matter what doubts and concerns may be directed our way, if we will maintain the knowledge that we have been saved by Jesus we will have the right attitude to overcome our trials.

Finally, we are given equipment to have an effect on the world around us.  We should take up the sword of the Spirit.  This is not a weapon of destruction and pain.  Rather, it is an instrument to put to death fear and pain and sorrows.

The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.  When we share the word of God, when we share the message and teachings of the Bible we will have a positive effect on everyone and everything around us.

We must step forward equipped with the armor of God.  We are protected by the truth and our righteousness.  We are guarded by our faith.  We are guided by the knowledge of our salvation and we are spurred to action through the gospel of peace and the teachings of God.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  Which pieces of the armor of God do you need to develop?

Tools - Armor 2

Ephesians6:14-15

At the start of school when our children were younger we would send them off on their first day equipped with what they needed to make it through the year.  We would often go through all the things they had – pencils, paper, calculator, folders, glue, scissors, and so on.  With all the tools they needed they were aware of how to use them and aware that they could do anything asked of them at school.

Ephesians 6 brings this letter of faith preparation to a close with some powerful reminders of how to employ our faith in the struggles of life.  What are the three pieces of armor mentioned in this passage?  What do they represent?

Just as a belt buckled at our waist helps us to feel secure and works to hold everything in place, the armor of God begins with the belt of truth.  When we have wrapped ourselves in truth – the truth of who we are, what we are capable of, and what relationship we have with God – we are secure in our faith.  We know that we are surrounded by the love of God and on this truth we can hang all of the rest of our equipment.  The truth is what holds our faith in place as well as our ability to love and do the work of God.

With the belt of truth we also have the breastplate of righteousness.  “Righteousness” is often misunderstood as meaning “right, correct, not wrong.”  “Righteousness” may be more correctly defined as “having a correct and firm relationship with God.”  It is righteousness that keeps us close to God, that guides us in living out the love and mercy of the Lord.  When we cover ourselves with a correct relationship with God, protect ourselves with the holy guidance on how to live, we can face all the troubles in life.

For our feet we likely own shoes of some kind.  Shoes are not meant to be set aside and never used.  They are meant to help our feet do what needs to be done.

In faith we must put on the sandals (or shoes) of the gospel of peace.  Knowing that God desires to have all people in a loving relationship with Him allows us to move forward in our faith.  The gospel of peace helps us step out in faith and share the good news of salvation we know.

As we prepare to face the evils in the world we must be dressed in the armor of God, the truth and righteousness that gives us confidence, and the gospel of peace that drives us forward.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  What can remind you of the truth and righteousness you possess?

Tools - Armor 1

Ephesians6:12-13

At the end of a difficult day of work and taking care of all the business of life, of keeping the house in order, fixing dinner and cleaning up afterward, it is not uncommon for me to collapse on the couch to rest and watch TV.  The struggles of what is required in life can be exhausting.

Now as we approach the end of Ephesians we hear some encouragement as to how we should face the struggles of faith.  With whom are our struggles?  What should we do to be prepared?

Although a life of faith can be fulfilling and rewarding, it is not always easy.  This passage points out the enemies we face.  We are not in conflict with other people, although it may seem that way.  We are struggling against the rulers and authorities of this world.

This does not mean we are in opposition to our government and elected officials.  We are in conflict with those ideas and prevailing concepts that have authority in our culture – the prevailing trends of selfishness, greed and carnal pleasures.  We are in conflict with the temptation to do the wrong thing because everyone else is doing it.

Some may believe all the problems and temptations in life are the direct result of Satan, the physical being that wields the power of evil.  Others may see that the temptations and trials of life are simply the accumulated weight and force of the sinful, human nature.  It is humanity’s tendency to do what humanity desires that causes problems and is our enemy.

Whichever view you choose to take, or one that may fall in between the two, the struggles are real.  There is an enemy to the faith that exists.  As believers we are called to face these enemies, these problems and challenges, these temptations and lures.  We must overcome them with our own strength in our faith.

Ephesians has taught us that we are loved by God and saved by Christ.  It has shown us that we are called to shine the light of God’s love on all the world and to allow the Holy Spirit to give us a new vision in our faith.  We have been taught to follow the direction and leading of God, to walk in step with the Lord and each other, and to live in relationships of mutual support and love.

Now we are equipped with what we need to be Christians strong in our faith.  We are encouraged to put on the armor of God, those aspects which will give us the ability to live out all these requirements of holy living.  And once we are able to overcome the trials of life we will not collapse exhausted.  Instead we will be equipped to continue standing strong in our faith.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  Can you identify the rulers, powers and authorities that exist in your life to make it difficult to live a holy life?

Tools - Walking Stick 5

Galatians3:26-28

Unfortunately we still have issues in our society with prejudice.  We have trouble accepting people of different color, different origins, different social status and income, and even different sex than ourselves.  We still have struggles of equality among all people.

But as believers, as Christians, as children of God all of these differences should be erased from our eyes.  We must see one another as equal in the Lord.

What relationship do we have with God?  How is that achieved?  Through our faith expressed in our baptism, what type of people have we become?

If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior then we are made into new people.  We become children of God (Galatians uses the word “sons” but we need to ignore the differentiation of sex).  We express our belief in Jesus through the sacrament of baptism, being immersed – either literally or symbolically – in water to remind us of the death and resurrection of Christ.

With this acceptance and sacrament we are made into new beings.  We are clothed or covered with Christ.  God now sees us as His children in the way He would see Jesus as His son.

With this all those things that made up who we were are gone.  It doesn’t matter if we came from this nation or that land.  It doesn’t matter what language we speak.  It doesn’t matter what position we hold in society or in the business world.  And it doesn’t matter if we are male or female.

We are all made into children of God.  We are equal with one another.

As such we are called to submit to one another.  We are called to share the love of God with one another.  And we are called to see everyone through the loving eyes of Jesus.

Through our belief in Christ and adoption as children of God we must work toward that one-ness and wholeness that Jesus desired.  We must move forward in our faith journey until we are “brought to complete unity” with God, with Christ, and with all other people.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you see others as equal to you in the faith?

Tools - Walking Stick 4

John17:22-23

I can imagine those who are upset by the claim that women are not beneath men.  They may see the passages from Ephesians and 1 Corinthians as clear statements of the delineation of rank – God, Jesus, men, women.

But let’s look at the whole picture through the eyes of Jesus.  In today’s passage we have the words of Jesus as he offers a prayer to God.  Why has Jesus given the believers God’s glory?  What further clarification is given at the beginning of verse 23?  What does Jesus desire?

This portion of Christ’s prayer seems to sum up the whole concept of unity in love.  Jesus has shared the glory of God with his disciples and they will soon be sharing that glory – the incredible and overwhelming knowledge of God’s presence – with other believers (John 17:20-21).  Through this knowledge and understanding of who God is and how much God loves us the disciples will become as one, unified in the power of the Spirit.

Jesus then continues with the prayer and expresses the hope that those who believe and follow Jesus will “be brought to complete unity.”  Linking this with the words that start verse 23 – “I in them and you in me” – we see a glimpse of this complete unity.

God is in Jesus.  Jesus is in God.  Jesus is in the disciples.  God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are in all who accept and believe.  We now have an intricate web of unity with all of us becoming as one with the Lord.

If this is true and if this is part of our faith, then all who believe – men and women – are united as one.  We become as one body united in God, united in Christ, united in one another.  With that, how is it possible for one person or one group of people to be in a superior position or position of authority while others remain subservient and second class?

It seems clear that men and women, parents and children, master and slave (or employer and employee) are to submit to one another in reverence and love.  We submit to the love and will of God, and through that we are able to care for, love, serve and encourage one another as equals.  We are to love one another as we love ourselves.  We are to seek the one-ness, the wholeness that comes from loving God completely.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you enter into the one-ness of God?

Tools - Walking Stick 3

1Corinthians 11:3

Working for an engineering firm many years ago I was promoted after two years with the company.  I went from being a technical editor to being the department supervisor.  It did not change my work location and it did not change my salary.  It just increased my responsibility.

Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth makes an observation of relationships which is closely related to Ephesians 5:22-33.  Who is the head of man?  Who is the head of woman?  Who is the head of Christ?

At first glance this may seem a way of putting every person in their place, of arranging a neat and clean pecking order for all people.  God is in charge.  Jesus is subservient to God.  Man is subservient to Jesus.  Woman is at the bottom.

But I believe this is a very naïve and uninformed (and un-Christian!) view of what is being presented here.  We can concede that God is above all things.  He is the Almighty Lord and everything must bow down to Him.  But even as we concede that point we know in our hearts that God does not demand for us to grovel in His presence.

While God is over all things – He is the head of Christ – it is not a position of dominance and oppression.  It is instead a position of responsibility and love.  God is love and as love He is the constant expression of love.  Thus, as head of all things God gives His love to all things and cares for each of us.

Just so, Jesus is the head of mankind.  And what has Christ done for us?  He has not taken a place on a throne and insisted we fall prostrate at his feet.  Rather, Christ gave himself completely for our salvation and to give us eternal life.  He sacrificed himself for our benefit.

Now we turn to men and women.  If man is the head of every woman it does not mean that man is the overlord, the master, the tyrant ruler that is above woman.  Instead it means that man holds the responsibility to provide for, lead, care, and nurture woman.

When I visit and interact with families I usually address the husband/father first out of social respect.  It does not mean I do not value the wife and children.  It simply means that I recognize the man as the head of the household – “head” being the one with the responsibility.  All other family members are still valued and loved.

If God is the head of Christ and Christ is the head of man and man is the head of woman, it is not a hierarchy of ruler-ship but an intricate web of responsibility and care.  It is a relationship of mutual love and respect among all.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  For whom do you have the responsibility of leading in faith and care?

Tools - Walking Stick 2

Ephesians5:25

The relationship between husband and wife is very much like a contractual agreement.  In such relationships each party agrees to give certain things in exchange for receiving certain things.  The relationship between husband and wife is not at all one-sided, but a mutual exchange of giving and receiving.

As mentioned in the comment on Ephesians 5:22 where wives are told to submit to their husbands, there are many people who only point out the instruction for women to submit to the man.  What they usually overlook is the command given to husbands.

What are husbands commanded to do?  What comparison is made?

I think it interesting to note that the passage regarding wives submitting to their husbands is only three verses long (Ephesians 5:22-24).  The passage regarding husbands and their obligation to their wives is five verses long (Ephesians 5:25-29).

Ephesians 5:25 instructs husbands to “love” their wives.  The word “submit” is not used as it is with the passage regarding wives.  However, if a man truly loves his wife then submission to her will be a large part of that relationship.  Once again, the relationship between husband and wife is not one of an important person ruling over a lesser person.  It is a connection of mutual care and encouragement.

We again have a qualifier in the passage on husbands.  They are to love their wives “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”  The husband’s love must be an all-consuming love.  It must be so strong a love that the man will not value himself over his wife.  He must be willing to sacrifice all for his spouse.

As Christ loved the church, men should love their wives.  Such a love involves the husband prizing the wife more than himself, wanting what is best for her even if it means giving up something for himself.  Such a love involves the desire to be in the presence of the wife, to delight in her company, and to want what pleases her.

It is important to note that Ephesians 5:31 recalls the words of Jesus (Matthew 19:5) and God (Genesis 2:24) – “the two will become one flesh.”  The relationship of husband to wife is a connection of one-ness.  It is a connection of wholeness, and as such requires that both wife and husband submit to one another – putting the other first – and love one another with a willingness to sacrifice at every occasion.  The relation of wife to husband is one of mutual care, support and aid.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you love your significant other in the same way Christ loved the church?

Tools - Walking Stick 1

Ephesians5:22

Ephesians continues to give us the tools we need on our faith journey.  If we will make a lengthy trip we will likely need a walking stick to assist us on our trek.  The walking stick is that tool which helps to support us, aids us as we move along, allowing us to lean against it for encouragement.  Beginning in Ephesians 5:22 we see examples of relationships which are meant to offer support for one another.

Which person is the first to be talked about in this grouping of relationships?  What should wives do?  What should be the attitude?

This simple passage has been cited on many occasions by men who want the women in their life to be subservient to them.  It can be interpreted as a message or command for submission.  But we must remember that this passage is only the beginning of a very lengthy discussion of all relationships between people.

As I perform weddings I often make note of the fact that the vow to “obey” is no longer part of the Methodist service of marriage.  Should wives be obedient to their husbands?  The answer is plain in Ephesians.  Yes.

But before we place females in a lesser position in a marriage or in society, we must first realize – as already mentioned – this is only part of an overall comment on all relationships involving wives, husbands, children, employees and employers.  We must also look at the qualifier in this passage.  Wives are to submit to their husbands “as to the Lord.”

This does not mean that the man is lord over the woman.  This does not mean that the wife has no value.  It means that the wife should be in the same relationship with her husband as any believer is in a relationship with Jesus.

Such a relationship is one of equal value.  Each should love the other and be part of a relationship of equality and mutual care and respect.  Just as Jesus deserves our obedience to his teaching and example, so wives should be obedient to the leading and care of their spouse.

But also, just as Jesus showers us with his love and grace, the wife who submits to her husband should expect to receive care and compassion, as well as the protection and affection the husband is supposed to give.

The relationship of wife to husband is not one of servant to master, second class to elite, but is a relationship of mutual care and support.  The relationship is one of equality, assistance, and encouragement in love.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you make your relationship with a significant other one of mutual respect and care?

Tools - Boots 5

Isaiah30:20-21

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”  “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

We are all familiar with these well-known Bible passages, the 23^rd Psalm and the Lord’s Prayer.  These are words that speak to us of comfort.  These are words that remind us that God is with us to help us through the difficulties of life.

While we can take comfort in knowing that God is with us there are so many times in life when we have our doubts and our fears.  We may begin to wonder if we are alone in our troubles.

The prophet Isaiah speaks about the assurance of God.  What do we experience in life?  What hope do we have?  Whose voice will we hear?

Life has its share of ups and downs.  There will be those times of goodness and happiness, but with them are also times of trouble.  Isaiah claims that God gives us the bread of adversity and the water of affliction.  But before we blame God for our troubles, let us look at this expression in the light that God simply provides life and existence, and troubles are just the unavoidable part of all we experience.

In spite of the challenges we may experience we need to remember that God is with us.  If we will follow the leading of the Spirit, if we will be wise, if we will walk in step with the Lord then we can be assured that as we go through life we will have the voice of God showing us the way to go.  God can be with us if we allow it, if we invite the Lord to be our guide.  He will tell us about the way in which we should walk.

How do we know about the way?  We must listen to the teachers.  Our teachers are Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father.

If we can focus our faith journey on doing the will of God and sharing the love of God, we can follow the leading of God.  If we listen to the voice of our Master we will know how to be in step with the Lord in all we do.  Then we will have the confidence to face the trials of life without fear.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  Where can you hear the voice of God?

Tools - Boots 4

1 John3:17

If you have ever been on an escalator and turned in the opposite direction so that you are walking against the movement of the escalator then you have created that illusion of walking forward when in fact you are not moving.  It can be an amusing thing to do.  It can appear that you should be moving forward but all of your steps take you nowhere.

If we will walk in step with the Lord, if we will be guided by the Spirit and deny the sinful nature in us, we must live out the love of God.  This is walking in step with the Lord.  This is how we choose to be wise and not foolish.  This is how we gain a deeper understanding of God – by living out the love that God has given us.

Living in step with God means that we do godly things.  We offer kindness and care to those in need.  We live a life of humility and gentleness, putting others ahead of ourselves and working toward the good of all people.  When each step we take is an expression of love and care we are walking in the footsteps of Christ

John gives us an observation on how to live a life of love, an expression of the love that God has given us.  Through the example given how are we to express love?

There are times when we as Christians are doing little more than the escalator trick in our walk with God.  We can appear to be walking in step with the Spirit – we can look good on the outside – when in fact we are doing nothing.  I believe that it would not take much effort for each one of us to find a person in our area who is in need.  The poor and genuinely needy are around us all the time.

But do we do anything to help others?  Is the love of God really in us?  If we truly love God and truly have the love of God in us then we will walk in step with God.  We will allow the Spirit to guide us to do good and merciful things that will help those who need it.

When we offer help to the needy and the poor, the spiritually wanting people around us, we are expressing the love of God.  When we help others we are being wise and not foolish.  We are denying the sinful nature and following the leading of the Spirit.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How will you demonstrate that the love of God is in you this week?

Tools - Boots 3

Ephesians5:15-17

I remember being on a trip one time with family and friends when I was a teen-ager.  We were traveling through Boston and our friend was driving when we came to a place where the highway split.  Our friend asked which way he should go and no one in the car could give him an answer, so we drove closer and closer to the barrier between the two lanes until we almost crashed into it.

The inability to make a decision took us to a very dangerous place.  But a wrong decision can also take us places we do not want to go.

This passage from Ephesians gives us some options about living.  According to verse 15 how should we NOT live?  How should we live?  What two options are presented in verse 17?

Life is full of choices.  Should I turn this way or that?  Should I use paper or plastic?  Should I do this or do that?  Our spiritual life is also filled with choices.  We can either follow along the leading of our sinful, human nature or we can follow the leading offered by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5 points out two ways of living – unwise and wise.  Naturally, the recommendation is to live as wise people.  In our wisdom, according to Ephesians, we will make the most of every opportunity.  If we are wise in our choices, wise in how we approach life, our lives will be filled with satisfaction and fulfillment.  We will know the joys and happiness of being in step with God.

We can also choose to be foolish.  We can choose to follow our selfish desires and head in a direction that takes us far from the love and goodness of God.  Our other option is to understand the will of God.

If we will choose to abandon unwise approaches to life and abandon foolish behavior, and instead try to draw closer to God in our understanding and thinking we will avoid the terrible spiritual crash that might await us.  Rather we will discover the goodness of being in sync and in step with the goodness of God.

We must, in wisdom, choose to know God better.  In this choice we will find that every opportunity in our life will be filled with the holy goodness of God.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  What unwise choices should you abandon?

Tools - Boots 2

Galatians5:16-17

There are times when I am at home trying to get things accomplished – like doing laundry, cleaning up dishes, straightening the house or working on the Sunday service – that I find myself walking back and forth throughout the house.  Sometimes I just stand in one place uncertain which way to go and what to do next.  The many demands that I face pull me in so many directions I don’t know where to go.

The same can be true in our faith life.  We can feel pulled in so many directions – drawn this way by our jobs, that way by our family, this way by what we desire, and that way by what we ought to do in God’s kingdom – that we end up going nowhere.  If we will grow in our faith, if we will accomplish anything good, we must have a clear path and direction for how to move forward.

This passage from Galatians gives us some guidance in how to approach our faith.  How should we live?  What will we do when we live by the Spirit?  What is the relationship between the Spirit and the sinful nature?

The sinful nature we must confront is the sum of all of our selfish desires.  The sinful nature is the human side of us, that part of who we are that seeks gratification in material possessions, social acceptance, financial gains, and physical pleasure.  We can be tempted and lured by all the earthly happiness that draws us away from godly things.

But when we try to straddle that line of living as others do, but also trying to live as children of God, we can find ourselves going nowhere.  The struggle between our sinful nature and holy aim leaves us stuck in one place.

What we are to “want” to do is to follow the Spirit of God.  We should desire to be in step with the Holy Spirit, the love of God, the goodness of imitating Christ.  Once we make that decision we have a clear path to follow.  We can then move forward in our faith journey walking in step with the Spirit and growing in faith.

Let us walk in step with the Spirit, moving as we are led by God.  We will move away from the sinful nature and closer to holy perfection.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you follow the leading of the Spirit?

Tools - Boots 1

Ephesians5:1-2

Ephesians has given us the backpack of our faith, the flashlight of God’s love, binoculars from the Holy Spirit to look at our faith differently, and a compass to keep our faith moving in the right direction.  Now Ephesians gives us the hiking boots we need for our journey.

The fifth chapter opens with a command for us.  What is it?  Why should we do this?

If we will go on a journey we need to wear boots on our feet to protect them.  These boots can be a reminder of how our feet work together.  It would be very difficult to move if we walked only with one foot or if one foot did not match the stride of the other.

Just as our feet must work in tandem with one another for us to have success, so it is with our faith.  As we move forward in our journey we must match ourselves with our Savior.  Ephesians 5:1 is clear.  “Be imitators of God.”

If we can imitate God we will be in step with God.  Just as one foot works equally with the other our life of faith must keep the pace that has been set by Jesus.  We are told to act like God.  We are told to live a life of love.  Living a life of love means that we will care about other people and assist them in any way we might be able.

Ephesians 5 reminds us that we are children of God, and as such we are to “live a life worthy of the calling.” (Ephesians 4:1)  This may require sacrifice on our part.  It may not necessarily be the sacrifice of money and material items.  It may be the sacrifice of our time or simply the sacrifice of caring about others.

Whatever the sacrifice, we are again given the example of Christ as the guide, the pacesetter for our spiritual walk.  Through his love for us Jesus was willing to give himself up for us.  If we will walk in tandem with the Lord, being imitators of God, then we must also be willing to give of ourselves to express love to others.

In this way we will be walking spiritually side by side with the Lord in our faith journey.  We will have Jesus as the guide, the footsteps we should follow.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you imitate God?

Tools - Compass 5

John 14:20-21

As we follow the direction of the compass we are given, follow the lead that Jesus provides, we are aware that we are all part of one body, the body of Christ.  We are aware that we each have our own part to play.  We all contribute toward the wholeness of God’s love.

We know that to function well together we must put off falsehoods and speak truthfully with one another.  In that way we truly live out the goodness we are called to have.

Now we must learn more about the wholeness of being the body of Christ as we all move in the same direction we are given.  What realization does Jesus speak of?  How do we show that we love Jesus?  How is this love shared?

Growing strong in our faith we learn to follow the direction that Jesus offers.  We follow the example of sharing God’s love as Jesus did.  We all begin to move in the same direction with our faith, moving closer to the holiness and perfection we are called to.

As we move forward in our faith we begin to realize our one-ness with the Lord.  When we are moving in the right direction in faith we will have Christ dwelling inside us.  With Christ as a part of us we are then a part of Jesus.  And as we are part of Jesus we are also a part of the everlasting God.

When we obey the commands of Jesus we are showing that we love him.  As we show love to Jesus and we share the love of Jesus we are part of the body of Christ.  That is when we know we are going in the right direction in our beliefs and in our lives as Christians.

The compass cannot take us to where we need to go.  We must move forward in faith.  But as we move in our journey we must realize that we are part of God and God is part of us.  With that we will have the strength and wisdom to reach our goal, and we will have the love we need for ourselves and the love we need to share.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How do you know Jesus is IN you and you are IN Jesus?

Tools - Compass 4

Ephesians4:25

While a compass can be very helpful in getting us to our destination, just looking at the compass is not going to accomplish the task.  It is not enough to simply know which direction to go if we want to get somewhere.  We need to actually move in that direction if we have any intention of reaching our destination.

If we are all part of the one body, the body of Christ, we all must function well together.  To do that we must be honest with one another.  We must speak the truth so that we can function properly as a unified group.

As the writer of Ephesians gives us the compass for heading in the right direction with our faith, we are now told how to go forward in that right direction.  What should we NOT do?  What should we do?  Why should we do this?

We are given the direction in our faith.  We know that we should be moving toward holiness and perfection by following the example of Jesus.  But knowing what we ought to do does very little for us if we do not act on it.

Our path of faith leads us to be Christ-like in our thoughts and actions.  If we will move forward in our faith we must learn to be honest.  We must speak the truth to one another, removing or abandoning all falsehoods.  We should not try to conceal our struggles and doubts or our own failings.

Instead we should be open and honest with one another.  Speaking the truth with our brothers and sisters in the faith will allow us to receive the guidance and encouragement we may need to move forward on our path of faith.  Speaking truthfully with one another will help us to live out the various ministries we are called to do.

When we abandon falsehoods and take on the truth we will function much better as a unified body.  As each of us belongs to others in Christ we must be honest in our dealings with one another that we might grow spiritually.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How can you be more honest within the body of Christ?

Tools - Compass 3

Romans 12:4-5

Doing a little car repair last summer our son encountered a common occurrence.  When he had put the car back together he was left with a couple of bolts and pieces.  Where did they belong?  Where did they come from?  No one knew.

The car seemed to function well without these pieces so we did what any good mechanic would do – we threw them away.

Sometimes we may find extra parts and pieces to our mechanical devices, even though the machine seems to work without them.  What we will never find, however, are extra people who are not part of the body of Christ.  In his letter to the believers in Rome Paul talks about the importance of all the people who are part of the church.  What comparison is made?  What is the relationship between all of these parts?

I believe one of the biggest problems in any church or place of worship is the common belief that this person or that has no ministry to do.  I believe we all must realize that each one of us has something we can do for the kingdom of God.  Every one of us is capable of serving the Lord and the church – and each other! – in some way.

We may be talented at teaching or leading a Bible study.  We may be good at offering encouragement.  We may be good at music or singing.  We may be good at listening to others.  There is always something that each of us can do that will glorify God.

Aside from realizing that we are all important in some way it is also essential that we remember the last few words of Romans 12:5 – “each member belongs to all the others.”  By refusing or failing to be part of the body of Christ we are not only letting God down, we are depriving other believers of the riches of the wholeness of the body of Christ.

While we are all on different paths of faith we must be heading in the same direction following the guidance of Jesus.  We all must follow the compass of God’s love and become part of the whole body of God’s kingdom.

DAILY CHALLENGE:  How will you join in the body of Christ?http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012:4-5&version=NIV1984