Ephesians 4:22-32 (NIV)

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Explanation:

What an awesome passage. As humans, there’s a part of us that longs for an instruction manual to our lives, and it doesn’t get any clearer than this. These verses spell out how our new lives in Christ should be and look different. Seems simple. But simple isn’t always easy. What happens when you’re angry and don’t want to talk it out? What happens when something said has made you furious, and the words on your tongue are ready to put a person in their place?

Taking off old clothes and putting on new ones require a choice and effort. So does putting off your old self, with its old ways of thinking, responses, and desires….and putting on your new self. It’s a choice, and we are called by God to put on our new self. Scripture says this is our reasonable act of service...the minimum He expects of us. It is our choice, our sacrifice. We choose to die to our self and our desires, and choose to put on His character.

You see, Christ changes our hearts in the moment of salvation. He changes our position toward God and He changes where we will spend eternity. But the rest is about leaning on Him to change our habits. He gives us the power, but it is our choice alone. Put on the new self, friends. EVERYTHING He asks of us is for His glory and OUR GOOD.

Application:

1. It is our reasonable act of service to present our bodies a living sacrifice to the Lord, submitting fully to His will for us, for He deserves no less from us. (See Romans 12:1.)

2. In light of these verses, ask God to search your heart and point out the places where you are struggling to choose Him. Ask for help. Remember that so much of God’s way is contrary to our fleshly desires. YOU ARE NOT FAILING. This is part of the process.

3. When you notice that you chose God’s way in an area, that you “put on the new man,” CELEBRATE! God is! Don’t give up when you stumble. Keep pressing forward for the prize.

Prayer Starter:

Father, You are faithful and wonderful and gracious. Thank You that Your heart is for us, You desire us, and You come after us. Help us to honor You with every moment of our lives. Thank You for Your grace as we grow toward You. Help us to keep You in the forefront of our minds, and grow our joy so it spills out onto the world around us, for Your great glory. We love You, Lord, and thank You. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Devo Plus:

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:14 NLT)

Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16 (ESV)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Explanation:

Starting in Ephesians 4, Paul shifts the discussion from doctrine to duty. Here we see the behaviors that every Christ follower should exhibit to achieve unity in the body of Christ. As with everything relating to Christianity, our motivation must be unconditional love for one another.

It is not just our actions and attitudes that strengthen the church. We all have spiritual gifts that God graciously bestows, so we can help each other grow in our knowledge and obedience of God’s Word. Spiritual maturity is our best defense against false doctrine that can seep into the church.

Each of us has a role in building up the body of Christ. We are designed to fit together—and work together—perfectly. Spiritual unity is vital to the health of the church family, and this is simply not possible without genuine love for each other.

Application:

1. Do you know your spiritual gifts?

2. How are you using your gifts to build up the church?

3. How can each of us use our gifts to strengthen the church while we are currently not physically meeting?

4. If you don’t know your spiritual gifts, do you know how to discover them?

Prayer Starter:

If you don’t know your spiritual gifts, ask God to reveal them to you, however He chooses to do so. Ask God to open the doors necessary for you to use your gifts, and thank Him for setting you apart for service in the body of Christ.

Devo Plus:

Read Romans 12:3-8 to learn more about spiritual gifts and how we should use them.

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy. (Psalm 68:5 NLT)

I grew up in a Christian home that always prayed and talked about God. I knew who God was and that He loved me. My parents got divorced when I was young, so my dad became an every other weekend dad. My grandpa, who was a father figure to me, passed away three years after my parents’ divorce. As I grew up, when I would think about a father figure, I didn’t have the best idea of who or what he was. I felt like I was constantly trying to please my dad, and tell him all the cool things I had been doing. I thought that would change our relationship and maybe he would want to spend more time with me. This was an unrealistic expectation that I put on him and myself. What an exhausting way to live life!

When I made the decision to follow God, I realized the best father I could ever have is God. He loves me and desires to be in relationship with me. He wants to hear my voice every morning and be a part of every situation (small or big) in my life. God created me.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:13-18 NLT)

Knowing these truths about what God says about me in scripture has changed everything in my life. The incredible thing about God is, He isn’t like an earthly father. He is omnipresent, meaning present everywhere (Psalm 139:8-9). He has enough love for each one of us. How amazing is that!

This is my challenge to you. Take all your past thoughts about your earthly father, good or bad, and seek God as your Father. He has chosen you to be in His family, died on the cross for You, and wants to be in relationship with you! You are God’s kid, and He loves you so much.

Ephesians 3:6-11 (ESV)

This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Explanation:

There is a lot that could be delved into from today’s reading, but one thing in particular we can glean from these passages is that God gave Paul a unique role, to bring the message of the gospel to gentiles (anyone who was not Jewish). This was a big deal, because throughout biblical history, God had always interacted strictly with the Jewish people. He spoke with them, created a nation through them, provided them with His ways for remaining in relationship with Him, and ordained them with specific purposes, including being the lineage from which Jesus would be born. They were it. However, after Jesus’s incredible sacrifice and resurrection, that focus shifted, and God began to extend a relational invitation to the gentiles, as well as continue His engagement of the Jews. This would ultimately create a new unified nation of people from all over the world, who not only received the gospel message, but in turn would go and spread that message to the world around them.

This grace, given by God, is the reason why many of us get the privilege of being able to call Jesus our Savior, and more so, of being able to call God our Father. What an overwhelming truth this is, if we truly take the time to reflect on how this has forever changed our eternal reality. We now get to partake in all the family privileges and promises, because God chose to welcome in all those who call on the name of Jesus. God is so rich toward us all.

Application:

1. How does the gospel message apply to you?

2. What is so “rich” about everything Christ did?

3. How is the gospel still relevant to anyone today?

4. How do you think the Ephesians (who were primarily gentiles) received the message of the gospel that Paul delivered to them?

Prayer Starter:

Jesus, we could never measure how rich You have been toward all of us, to let us share in all the promises You have made. Help us not to take Your richness for granted. Let it stir our hearts to love You more, and like Paul, share the gospel message with others around us. For we know now that this message and its promises is meant for all to hear.

Devo Plus:

What other gentile groups did Paul share the gospel with?

Ephesians 2:1-10 (MSG, emphasis mine)

It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. SAVING IS ALL HIS IDEA, AND ALL HIS WORK. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TRUST HIM ENOUGH TO LET HIM DO IT. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.

Explanation:

Legalism says God will love us if we change. The gospel says God will change us because He loves us.

It is through Jesus's death and resurrection that we are now able to be regenerated just by believing in Him and His plan. Thank God for Jesus! He is for us what we can never be for Him...wholeheartedly devoted.

Application:

1. What do you think “trusting Him enough to let Him do it” actually means?

2. What would have to change in this moment for you to wholeheartedly accept God’s gift?

3. Why is it so easy to think we can change ourselves if we try harder?

4. When someone gives you a gift, do you try to pay them? No. The proper response is “Thank you!” Because our salvation and even our faith are gifts, we should respond with gratitude and joy.

Prayer Starter:

Thank You, Jesus, for the free gift of my salvation and all the life it brings. I am so very grateful for Your love and restoration as You change me through the power of Your Holy Spirit. I long to be more like You in my thoughts, actions, and responses. Create my new life, and help me overcome my old ways of thinking. I love You, Jesus.

Devo Plus:

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17, NLT)

Over the next few weeks, The Tree Church Daily Devotions will be taking a stroll through some of the different books of the Bible. Sunday will be a brief overview of the book, then each following day will give you one of the main passages or themes found within that book. Most of the books we will process through will be shorter and can be read in its entirety in a single sitting or two. I would encourage you to read the entire book on Sunday. It will help with your understanding of each individual passage you will look at over the following six days, but it will also give you a good taste of the different writings in the Bible. If you have any questions as you begin to read and walk through these books, please reach out to me at [email protected]. - Pastor Chris

The book of Ephesians is a letter attributed to the Apostle Paul, and would have made its way around to various churches in the Asia Minor area. Paul focuses the letter on God’s saving act through Jesus and how that act affects every area of a believer’s life. Through grace, Jesus has given His gift of salvation, and the result should be a life dedicated to pursuing righteousness. Another major theme for Paul is unity in the church because of Jesus’s work on the cross. Because Christ is head of the church and we are united in Him, we should walk accordingly. Paul also brings to light Christ’s conquering of the cosmic powers, and how we, as believers, face off against those powers in our own lives via the armor of God.

As you read Ephesians, pay attention to what Christ has done…and the implications of His work for the lives of believers, the church, and the world in which you live.

Application:

1. Read through the entire book of Ephesians today.

Prayer Starter:

Father, teach us and remind us of Your good work in our lives. Help us to live upright lives in response to the free gift of salvation you give to us. We are so thankful You came to rescue us, and ask You to help us understand how we should respond to that gift. Amen.

Devo Plus:

Check out the series of Podcasts on the Letters by the Bible Project. It is a great resource to help you understand how to begin to read the letters in the New Testament.

Philippians 3:7-9 (ESV)

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

Explanation:

The Apostle Paul is writing this letter to the church in Philippi. Before Paul encounters God, he has it all, according to the culture at the time. He is educated, a person of importance and power. In the world’s eyes, he is successful. In Paul’s eyes, he has everything.

But then Paul has an encounter with the risen Christ. He comes to recognize that everything he had before is meaningless, that all of these former things are going to fade away. The praise of man, power, education, money, wealth, and the things of this world are all rubbish (waste, worthless) when we have an encounter with Jesus. He changes everything. At the end of our lives, the only thing that will be worth having is a relationship with Christ. He is our goal, He is our prize, He is where our greatest success lies. If we have Christ, we have everything we need.

Application:

1. What does the world tell us we have to have in order to be successful?

2. Why do you think Paul was willing to give up everything else, just so he could “know” Christ?

3. What idols or other things in your life do you have a hard time giving up for the sake of becoming more like Jesus?

4. Why is Christ our ultimate goal?

Prayer Starter:

God, we long to live like Paul, to be willing to give up the things of this world in order to fully know You. We long to have a passion for You, and You alone. Will you continue to help us, to lead us? We want to lay aside anything that hinders us from fully knowing You. You alone are our heart’s desire. Today, may we let go of the things of this world so we can gain more of You in our lives. We want more of You, each and every day. Amen.

Devo Plus:

Read all of Philippians 3 to encourage your faith and walk with Jesus.

John 8:31-32 (NLT)

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Explanation:

Jesus is the truth that sets us free, because He is the source of truth. His teachings set us free. Though many believe in Jesus, only those who go beyond the initial acceptance of His teachings, to obeying them, are truly set free. Those who continue to live by the truth of God’s Word are set free from the bondage of sin.

The study of Jesus’s teachings is transformational when you allow the truth of them to grow in your heart. They literally push out lies you have believed about yourself, others, and the world. Only against the backdrop of God’s Word will you know the lies that have held you in bondage and fear.

Lies are things that grow. Lies need the cover of more lies. They incinerate trust and suck the life out of your character. The act of concealing truth gives weight and power to lies, and actually takes a toll on your mental health. Satan is the author of lies (John 8:44), but Jesus is the opposite. Jesus alone can free you from sin and self-deception, because He is truth. He clearly will show you the way to free-flowing life…if you operate in the practice of absorbing and obeying His Word.

Application:

1. Our school of thought matters only when it agrees with God's Word. What does God’s Word have to say about your convictions, the relationship you are in, the decision you are about to make, the purchase you are considering, the opinion you have formed, the views you have expressed, or the plans you are making?

2. Is the Word of God the plumb line for all of your decisions? Are you tempted to let reasoning win over something God has clearly stated in His Word?

3. Have you ever been caught in a lie, and felt the need for the lie to grow? Was it freeing when the truth finally came out?

Prayer Starter:

Jesus, help me to continue to live by the truth of Your Word. Help me discern lies I have believed, and give me clarity as I begin to align my thoughts and actions with Your truth. I ask for Your Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth. Amen.

Devo Plus:

You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom! (Galatians 5:7-8 NLT)

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth had been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Explanation:

These words are what we know of Jesus’s final words to His followers. In His farewell, Jesus reiterates that He has all authority, so the things He asks us to do are to be grounded in His way and authority alone, grounded in what He considers righteous (right) and unrighteous. His Word determines what path we should take. His way never changes.

Until His death and resurrection, His ministry had been to the lost sheep of Israel, not the world as a whole. The law saw to it that the Jewish people alone could come close. But with Jesus’s sacrifice, the barrier of the law was removed. With that in mind, our goal is to help turn the hearts of all people into Christ followers. We must seek to see and lead others in the way Jesus would. We are to encourage others on toward obedience in baptism, where our commitment is made flesh. We are to observe, to obey and carry out, all He commanded us…all of it. And He leaves us with the comfort that He will never leave us. All things are possible in His presence.

Application:

1. True discipleship is not for the lukewarm or weak-willed. It is for those with the fortitude to pay the price, even if it is heavy. Are there things holding you back from true discipleship? Confess them to Jesus, who is willing and able to help us grow!

2. Take a heart check with the Lord, and see if there are any parts of Jesus’s last words that are lacking in your life. Confess those. Choose one each month, and focus on learning how to lean into Jesus to grow in this area.

3. Making more followers isn’t just Jesus’s command; it’s our joy! Spend some time thinking on who God is, all His goodness, how He shows Himself in your life, the miraculous ways He’s provided for you. Spend some time in worship, and thank Him for His saving grace in your life. Ask Him for the passion to lead our “future” brothers and sisters to their Father.

Prayer Starter:

Jesus, thank You for including us in Your work, trusting us with pointing others toward You. Would you right our hearts, encourage our spirits, and lead us out to those who need You? Give us Your eyes and Your heart, for Your glory and Your kingdom’s purpose. In Jesus’s powerful name. Amen.

Devo Plus:

Check out John 8:12, John 14:27, and Matthew 19:29 for further encouragement.

The Bible tells us to “be disciples” and to “make disciples” of His Word. As someone who is a bit too particular when it comes to grammar and the rules of the English language, I want to take a moment and highlight something in that opening sentence: verbs. Verbs are words that imply action, such as “be” and “make.” It sounds so simple in that context, but when we try to apply it to our daily lives, it often becomes extremely difficult.

Throughout my life, I have heard sermons and read scriptures about being and making disciples. Where I fall short is when it is time to turn those words into actions. I strive to be a disciple in my daily living. Although I have plenty of shortcomings, I seek God’s guidance to help me be a better disciple. My problem is that “being” isn’t just simply existing; it requires me to DO something.

I am called to be a disciple by constantly checking my attitudes, actions, and words…AND by taking action. Action sometimes means simply keeping my mouth (and my fingers) silent when I want to react to a comment or post on social media that I don’t agree with. It means allowing God to deal with situations I really want to handle myself. It means that I die to myself, my pride, and my ego…and take a pause.

It’s so hard to check our actions and ourselves at a time when being reactive seems to be the norm. It’s even harder to have a mind to make disciples when what we really want to do is to tell everyone how we feel in our flesh. Instead, we are called to love the people who are causing us to be frustrated. God wants us to relinquish control of the situation to Him, and not try to take it on ourselves.

I struggle with this incredibly. In my family, there’s a running joke/nickname that my grandmother (now deceased), my mom, my sister, and I have all been given: “Connie Control.” We like to be leaders. We like to get things done. Most of all, we like it when it’s done our way, on our timeline, and with us in control. Can you see how this creates a constant struggle for me? I really want to react to situations and take charge of them. Instead, I have to actively die to myself instead of reacting.

If I really want to “be” and “make,” I have to learn to submit to God’s plan, His timing, and His control. I will be much more successful in “being” and “making” when I continue to allow Him to guide my life and not try to handle things on my own. I have to actively seek His guidance, wisdom, and plan for my life. My prayer for all of us is that we become better at being “active” than we are at being “reactive” when situations are difficult. God’s much better at being in control than we are!