Bible Chapter: Ephesians 6

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Chapter six continues the theme of the structure of and function of the family as God designed it to be.  It tells children to obey their parents.  Children will generally not do this automatically.  They must be taught, from the earliest ages, to obey.  This teaching often takes real effort.  People who learn to obey legitimate authority will have a much better life.  The Bible is very clear about the issues of obedience and rebellion.  Obedience to parents is a commandment with a promise.  The blessing of long life was a strongly desired blessing when this was written.  God said that children who learn to obey, those who learn to honor their parents will bring God’s blessing on themselves.
    We also see the listing of God’s armor for the spiritual battle we face.  We wrestle against the devil’s schemes.  This is the war of faith.  The devil promotes unbelief in God’s promises, temptation, discouragement, division, compromise and many other destructive things.  God give us these spiritual weapons to fight the battle and win.  The battle is not to control the world but to bring people to know Jesus as their Savior.  We are told to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand in the evil day.  We live in an evil day.  The devil is a deceiver and a liar.  People are believing the opposite of what God revealed in His Word.  Even people who call themselves Christians are promoting things the Bible calls sin.  They are doing it in the name of Jesus.  We must do all the Bible calls for us to do so we can stand.  We must be constantly alert.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Even though I have read this passage many times and have preached on it, I know that I can have greater understanding of the armor described here.  I can be more of what verse 10 says, to be strong in the Lord and the power of HIS might.  I need to get a better grasp on what the battle really is.  This is one area where I, and I think many, need a greater understanding.  How do we use the weapons of our spiritual warfare?  What does God want us to do in the battle?  The more we study, the more we read and seek, the more we will grasp.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I need to help people see God’s design and function for the family.  People ask why the world is so crazy these days and why we have such messes to deal with.  Part of the answer is the disintegration of the family and the failing function of the home.  This is one of the passages (combined with chapter 5) where we can ask the question “What if everyone . . .?”  What if everyone, what if every home was structured and functioning according to the directions here?  What difference would it make if husbands really loved their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it?  What if wives really respected their husbands?  What if children really obeyed their parents and received God’s blessing for it?  How would the world be different?  I’d like to try and find out.