The Standard

(for someone who’s never heard the real version)

Controversial. Outdated. Repressive.

Those are some of the nicer words used to describe today’s first reading. The famous/infamous “wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord” chapter from Ephesians.

One priest I know jokes that it’s “best read without comment.” Only he’s not joking.

It’s a chapter with some baggage. Because it’s been used over the years to justify some truly bizarre, unhealthy, and ungodly understandings of marriage.

So it’s no surprise that many people want nothing to do with it.

The thing is, the well-known “wives, submit to your husbands” line? The one that’s been used to the do the most harm?

It’s only part of the story. In one sense, it’s the least important part.

The part that (conveniently) gets left out? It’s the important part, the harder part.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed Himself over for her.”

How is that harder? The last part. That’s the standard.

This isn’t some mushy, romantic, Hallmark-Channel-Christmas-movie love.

This is “as Christ loved the Church” love.

That means that you forgive her. At her least forgivable.

This is a Good Friday kind of love.

That means you sacrifice for her. Everything. If that’s what it takes.

That means you take her bullet.

Not because she’s nice. Not because she’s good to you. Not because she’s done anything to deserve it.

But because that’s what “as Christ loved the Church” love is all about.

That is the sacrificial standard that husbands are called to.

It’s a standard that few of us are man enough to live up to.

In case you wondered why no one ever talks about the rest of that chapter of Ephesians.

Today’s Readings

highlights from today’s message:

- give into thankfulness, goodness, righteousness, and truth

- have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness, but expose them 

- allow Christ to shine on you instead of mentioning what the disobedient do in secret

- understand what the Lord’s Will is, speak in psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit

- always give thanks in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 051323

d. 

Imitators of God

1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love, even as Messiah also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes holy ones; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks. 5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Messiah and God. 6 Let no man deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the sons of disobedience. 7 Don't be therefore partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord. 11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 12 For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of. 13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that is revealed is light. 14 Therefore he says, "Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you." 15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Don't be drunken with wine, in which is an abandoned life, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, to God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Messiah. 22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Messiah also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. 24 But as the assembly is subject to Messiah, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Messiah also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also the assembly; 30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31 "For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh." 32 This mystery is great, but I speak in regard of Messiah and of the assembly. 33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband. — Ephesians 5 | Hebrew Names Version (HNV) The Hebrew Names Version Bible is in the public domain. Cross References: Genesis 2:23; Exodus 20:17; Exodus 29:18; Leviticus 8:6; Leviticus 10:9; Joshua 7:21; Esther 1:20; Psalm 45:11; Proverbs 1:10; Proverbs 15:21; Proverbs 26:19; Isaiah 9:2; Isaiah 26:19; Jeremiah 27:9; Matthew 3:8; Matthew 6:26; Luke 10:17; John 3:20; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 6:13; 1 Corinthians 6:16; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:23; Philippians 2:15; Colossians 1:9; Colossians 3:16-17; Colossians 3:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Revelation 14:4; Revelation 19:7

Walk in the Way of Love (Ephesians 5:1-6)

The healthiest of relationships are characterized by a continual dynamic of giving love and receiving love.

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse…

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Daily Devotional- Ephesians 5:22-33

Paul instructs saintly wives. Wives are to be subject to their own husbands as to the Lord. He explains what he means and why. According to the created order, the husband is the head of the wife like Christ is the head of the church. Christ is the savior of the church body, so the husband, being the picture of Christ in the household, is the savior of his wife. As the church is subject to Christ,…

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Ephesians 5 (Be Ye Therefore Followers Of God)

Church notes - 16th April 2023

16th Philippians 1:9 - 11 Isaiah 53:6 - 12

Ephesians 3:14 -21 The Church and God's Limitless Power

vs 15 He didn't want the readers to be discouraged by his imprisonment.

Temptations - To retreat - To react

vs 16 Be inwardly refreshed by the Spirit. vs 17, 18 Enduring, deep rooted, established in love of Christ.

vs 19 Infinite love, infinite power.

vs 21 God is unbounded. He is unlimited.

Esther 4:13, 14

God had a plan but Esther had to interceede.

Ephesians 5:22

We look for the chances God is giving us to serve Him.

Ephesians 6:18 - 20

When no one is watching

When no one is watching

Today’s first reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. If one step’s back for “the big picture” It deals, however, not so much with a congregation in the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor as with the worldwide church, the head of which is Christ (Eph 4:15), the purpose of which is to be the instrument for making God’s plan of salvation known throughout the universe (Eph 3:9-10). Yet this…

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Battle-Ready

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is…

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"On Purpose: Understanding God's Freedom for Women Through Scripture" 

On Purpose offers a comprehensive look at Genesis 1-3, Ephesians 5, Passages in 1 Corinthians 11 and 14, and 1 Peter 3. #Egalitarian #WomenPastors #EqualinChrist

Ordinarily you and I would be deep in the pages of Isaiah’s oracles today. But Julie Zine Coleman’s book, “On Purpose: Understanding God’s Freedom for Women Through Scripture,” has just been released, and I wanted to take a few minutes to let you know about it. “You should go to seminary.” It was something I had heard any number of times, from my parents, from some of my high school teachers,…

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I found this template online a few months ago. It comes in handy when you don’t know where to start. So far my house is spotless and I’m not stressing out.

Ephesians 5:14 (NKJV) - Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

Stop the Bad, Start the Good (Ephesians 4:25-5:2)

Why, despite knowing better, is it so doggone hard to change?

We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. Don’t get so angry that you sin. Don’t go to bed angry and don’t give the devil a chance. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Be honest and work hard, so you will have something to give to people in need. Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say. Don’t make…

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“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.” —Ephesians 5:1‭-‬10 (NLT)

“Beloved Children, Pleasing to God” By In Touch Ministries:

“God delights in those who love Him and want to do His will—even when they stumble.”

“As believers, we’re supposed to imitate Jesus. That might seem impossible to us. After all, He was the Son of God! In fact, God the Father even attested several times, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17). How can we possibly live up to that?

Thankfully, God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He knows we’re still learning. Just like a parent who rejoices over a baby’s first steps, so our heavenly Father delights in our steps as we seek to walk with Him. The goal is growth. Once a toddler walks, the parents’ delight shifts to more mature achievements. As long as we keep growing in our faith, we will never cease learning new ways to please our Father. He loves us and patiently cheers us on at each new level.

What’s important to the Lord is our heart. Amidst all our frailties, failures, and temptations, God sees our inmost thoughts and motivations. He knows how much we love Him and desire to obey. Even in our stumbling, He helps us up and encourages us with His Word.

If you’re prone to perfectionism, give yourself grace and time to grow. That’s what the Father does, so learn to see yourself through His eyes. He’s waiting—not to berate your efforts but to help you develop into the person He designed you to be.”

Daily Devotional: Ephesians 5:11-21

Daily Devotional: Ephesians 5:11-21

The calling on the life of the Christian is to form the world positively. We are instructed not to participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness—what Paul has already called immoral, impure, and covetous. Unfruitfulness is evil. Before we take this too far and become workaholics, we do recognize that rest to the proper degree is fruitful for our bodies, as are many leisure activities. God…

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