Daily Scripture Reading Ephesians 6:1-24
There are many evil people in the world who proactively oppose God and promote sin while mocking righteousness. They promote abortion, same sex marriage, pornography, genocide, lies, deceit, and violence. They sneer at moral standards and holy living. We Christians rightly resist them and their beliefs. We naturally look upon them as being the enemy.
In a way they are the enemy. However, today’s passage reminds us that, ultimately, they are not the enemy. As Christians we are not actually fighting humans. Our battle is actually against something far darker.
When we stopped reading yesterday, we were reading some commands regarding marriage. Wives must submit to their husbands in everything and husbands must love their wives as themselves, and as Christ loved the church. Furthermore, wives must take the initiative to respect their husbands.
Eph. 6:1 ¶ Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Eph. 6:2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise),
The Hebrew word that is translated “honored” means to respect, exalt, and esteem. Honoring also means providing for them in their old age. According to verse 1, young children need to obey their parents. Once people move into adulthood they need to respect and esteem their parents, and eventually care for them.
Paul wrote that this is the first commandment with a promise. Actually, this is the only commandment regarding which God promised a benefit to those who obeyed it. All the rest of the 10 Commandments were to be observed simply because Yahweh commanded the Israelites to obey.
Eph. 6:3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG IN THE LAND.
Verses 2-3 are a quotation from Exodus 20:12. Verse 2 is the command. Verse 3 is the benefit that would be received by obeying.
Eph. 6:4 ¶ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Eph. 6:5 ¶ Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the integrity of your heart, as to Christ;
Eph. 6:6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
Slaves must not only obey, they must obey with a good attitude.
Eph. 6:7 serving with good will as to the Lord, and not to men,
Eph. 6:8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.
Being a slave is a lowly position in life. However, a slave who is a Christian can earn heavenly rewards by serving his master with a good attitude.
Eph. 6:9 ¶ And masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
This verse does not tell masters to release their slaves. It tells them to treat their slaves well.
Eph. 6:10 ¶ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength.
Eph. 6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Eph. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Take note of the contrast in this verse. As Christians, we are not battling humans. Instead, we are fighting a spiritual battle.
There are many humans who are opposed to God, and they denigrate righteousness and glorify sin. They say right is wrong and wrong is right. It is easy for us Christians to think of them as the enemy.
In a sense they are the enemy, or part of the enemy. However, this verse reminds us the worst human on earth is not the true enemy. Satan and his demons are the true enemy. The humans on earth who oppose God and glorify sin are merely serving Satan’s agenda. Ultimately, every human has the potential to become a Christian; therefore, we should not look upon any human as the true enemy.
Eph. 6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Eph. 6:14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
The very first piece of armor is truth. It is not emotions or feelings. It is not happy, positive words, The first item of armor is truth.
Many church attenders and church leaders are biblically illiterate. Therefore, they are not girded with truth. This explains why the church has been so inept in recent decades at resisting Satan and his schemes.
Eph. 6:15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.
Eph. 6:16 In addition to all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one,
Faith means to trust that God will do what He said He will do. It is only by trusting in God’s promises that we can withstand all the evil in our world.
Eph. 6:17 also receive THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
The last item mentioned is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, which is the truth. Once again we see the importance of Christians knowing the truth. Truth is much more important than feelings, emotions, or outward appearances.
Eph. 6:18 ¶ praying at all times with all prayer and petition in the Spirit, and to this end, being on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Eph. 6:19 as well as on my behalf, that words may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel—
Notice the word “boldness”. Even though Paul was in chains because he spoke the truth, he did not want to shy away from speaking the truth.
Eph. 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains—so that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Notice the words “boldly” and “ought”. Paul did not merely desire to speak boldly, he felt compelled and required to speak boldly, even though he was in chains for speaking the truth.
Eph. 6:21 ¶ But that you also may know about all my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you.
Eph. 6:22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know our circumstances, and that he may encourage your hearts.
Eph. 6:23 ¶ Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph. 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.
And that concludes the book of Ephesians.
As we go through life, we encounter many people who promote sin and mock holy living. Even though we need to resist them and their ideas, they are not the true enemy. Satan is the true enemy. As we resist sin and evil people, we must remember that humans who promote sin are not the true enemy.
How should Christians use truth, the word of God, to resist the evil that surrounds us?
Are you bold in proclaiming the truth to those who oppose God and promote sin?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”