Day 21 - Change Your Life!

Day 21 - Change Your Life!



Pray, Read the book of Ephesians, Praise God



STUDY VERSES:



Final Greetings


21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.

22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.



STUDY QUESTIONS:



1. Why is it important to read, study and understand the people in the Bible--like Tychicus?



2. What do you think it was like in the first century church? How important is encouragement from other believers and followers?



3. What is peace to you? Is it an environment? Is it a "state" of mind? How would you describe the peace of God?



4. Why do you believe Paul sends "grace" to the believers? What significance does grace have in this passage?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Commentary from ESV:


Eph. 6:21–24 Conclusion. Paul concludes his letter with closing remarks (vv. 21–22) and a final benediction (vv. 23–24). The remarks concern his introduction of Tychicus.
Eph. 6:21–22 Tychicus the beloved brother had served Paul faithfully for some time (see Acts 20:4; Col. 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:12; Titus 3:12) and probably carried the original letter to Ephesus.
Eph. 6:23–24 Paul concludes his letter with a benediction of peace, love, faith, and grace upon the church, as he had done in the opening (1:2). He mentions “love” three times, which is fitting for a letter where the love of God, the love of Christ, and Christian love have been prominent themes.





Commentary on Ephesians 6:19-24

The gospel was a mystery till made known by Divine revelation; and it is the work of Christ's ministers to declare it. The best and most eminent ministers need the prayers of believers. Those particularly should be prayed for, who are exposed to great hardships and perils in their work. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith. By peace, understand all manner of peace; peace with God, peace of conscience, peace among themselves. And the grace of the Spirit, producing faith and love, and every grace. These he desires for those in whom they were already begun. And all grace and blessings come to the saints from God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace, that is, the favour of God; and all good, spiritual and temporal, which is from it, is and shall be with all those who thus love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and with them only.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Day 21, three weeks of reading Ephesians...how blessed we are to have access to the Word of God. There are so many resources that are free, easy to get to and give us such a wonderful opportunity to know the word for ourselves.



Grace is a gift that is difficult for most of us to receive. Each day I must pray for the openness to receive the gift of grace as I put on my armor and check it for wear and tear--grace is important for me to received and extend to fellow believers.



Notice in the commentary that "grace" is only extended to believers (the favor of God)--we can extend love, peace, patience, forgiveness and other fruits of the Spirit to non-believers but they are not under grace. What does this mean? It means that in our constant state of prayer and supplication we must lift up the non-believers and ask God to reveal Himself to them. We are a link in the cosmic chain from earth to Jesus to heaven to eternal life.



Without us as part of the link, where will the sinners go? They go into the world like sheep to the slaughter. Pray my Beloved friends and sisters/brothers in Christ, pray that God will plant your firmly in the chain of Life and let you offer a link to someone today who will see His Light Shine in you and praise God.



Love to you all, Sister Lisa