Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 1:12-21.  Let’s go!
 
Philippians 1:12 (NIV)
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 
 
On verse 12:  Paul’s imprisonment could easily have been seen by him, his church and his critics as a setback. But Paul chose to see it as a step forward, something “to advance the gospel”.  Paul points to 4 ways that this “setback” was actually a step forward.
 
Philippians 1:13 (NIV)
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
 
On verse 13:  Here’s the first benefit Paul identifies from his imprisonment:  everyone in the palace guard and everyone who heard about Paul’s imprisonment now knew that Paul was there because of his faith and ministry in Jesus Christ (v13).  This would stir the curiosity of many people and give Paul more opportunities to share about his hope in Jesus.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 1:1-11.  Let’s go!

Hi GAMErs,
 
Today we begin the book of Philippians, a letter Paul wrote to his church in Philippi while he was imprisoned in Rome for preaching the Gospel in approximately 61 AD.  This book is packed with valuable lessons and verses worth memorizing.  I look forward to studying it with you.  Today’s passage is Philippians 1:1-11.  Let’s go!
 
Philippians 1:1-2 (NIV)
1  Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
2  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

On verses 1-2:  Here Paul addresses all the believers at his church in Philippi as “saints” or “holy ones”.   Contrary to popular belief, the word “saint” or “holy one” in the Bible is not a term reserved for especially good people.  As long as you have placed your faith in Jesus, in God’s eyes you are a “saint”, a “holy one”.  That’s not because you are a good person in and of yourself, but because Jesus’ blood covers your sins and makes you holy and blameless in God’s sight.  

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 6:10-24.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NIV) 
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

On verses 10-12:  Through these verses Paul reveals an important truth:  Whenever you find yourself fighting with other people, remember that beneath the surface our ultimate struggle is a spiritual one — not so much against flesh and blood, but against Satan, whose goal is to steal, kill and destroy your life (John 10:10).  Spiritual warfare is real.  But as we can see in the verses that follow, God has given you everything you need to stand up against every attack of the enemy.

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 6:1-9.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV) 
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 
2 “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise– 
3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 

On verses 1-3:  Here Paul refers to the children in the church of Ephesus.  The fact that Paul addresses children shows that children are as much a part of the church as adults.  When verse 1 tells children to “obey your parents in the Lord”, what does “in the Lord” mean?  It’s saying that children are to obey their parents as an act of worship and trust in God.  Paul gives two reasons children should obey their parents.  First, it’s the right thing to do (v1). Second, God promises that it will lead to blessing in a child’s life (v2-3).

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 5:22-33.

Ephesians 5:22-33 (NIV)
22  Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23  For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
24  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
26  to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
27  and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

On verses 22-33:  This passage is powerful as it gives us a greater appreciation for how Jesus loves us His bride, and a greater understanding of how a husband and wife should love one another.

Verses 25-27 tell us that Christ loved His church in two ways.
First, echoing language he uses elsewhere (e.g. Ephesians 5:1 and Galatians 2:20), Paul says that Jesus loved his bride in the most practical way when He “gave Himself up for her” (v25).  Jesus’ love for us is a selfless, sacrificial, serving, “get your hands dirty” kind of love.  But that’s not all.