Unwise & Wise - Eph 5:15-6:9
"Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:18b-20
"Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:18b-20
Be careful how you live! "Not as unwise but as wise" (v. 15b). Unwise living is foolishness and being filled with a substance (drunk on wine), while wise is understanding God's will and being filled with the Spirit. What does that filling look like? Singing praises, gratitude, and submission.
Paul shows four relationships in which this wise living can be seen by submission through the filling of the Spirit: One Another, Wives and Husbands, Children and Parents, Employees and Employers. In regards to one another, Paul calls the body of believers to put others before themselves, to not be self-seeking. Our individuality is not the priority, our unity is. We submit "out of reverence for Christ" (v.21). Wives submit as to the Lord, while husbands love them as Christ loved the church. Children obey because it is right and fulfills the fifth commandment, while parents are to instruct and train their children rather than exasperate them. Employees obey with respect, fear, and sincerity of heart as obeying Christ, while employers should treat them the same way. Ultimately none of these relationships are about us, but revolve around Christ and His relationship with us. When we are filled with the Spirit and submit in these relationships as He has called us to, we point others to the wonderful work of Christ. Our submission and leadership is a picture of Christ's perfect submission and humble servant leadership. It really is magnificent. Pray:
Father, this can be a hard teaching to follow. Help us understand Your word and will. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we can live wise, as light. Thank You for Your Son's perfect submission and Your perfect plan. You are perfectly wise. Amen.
Challenge:
In which of the four relationships has God placed you? Think about your role (church member/leader, husband/wife, child/parent, employer/employee) and consider your recent attitude and actions. Are you submitting as to Christ with respect? Are you leading as a servant, with love and respect? Do you need to change? If so, pray and develop a plan of action to create a permanent change.
CLIMB DAY 11
The final descent. Laughter has returned, along with sanity. The descent yesterday brought our team back to "normal" altitudes and the effects of altitude sickness are wearing off. The hike today is 3.7 miles downhill to Mweka Gate. This trail is used for all climbers descending from the summit trail our team used, so it is full of the chatter of many accomplished climbers, as well as those who didn't make it. Our team will use this time to reflect on the past week. They have experienced a great trial together and are now finishing together.
Mweka Gate is at the base of Kili on the eastern side of the mountain (as opposed to where the Lemosho trail took our team up from the western side). Here our team will have an opportunity to write in the National Park's Log for all Kili climbers. They will be happy to get off their feet and climb into the vehicles that will return them to civilization, fresh food, and hot showers. They will stay tonight in the same hotel as when they first arrived. After hot showers, clean clothes, and full bellies, they will have time to meet and debrief together, sharing stories and lessons learned on the mountain. While this trip was physically about the mountain, it was also about their own spiritual journeys. They met nightly with their team chaplain and studied through Ephesians just as we have. They will undoubtedly be more unified with one another through this trip, and they will undoubtedly be more unified in Spirit with their Father in Heaven.
Pray for a safe final day on the mountain. Pray for their drive back to the hotel and good rest. Pray that they would be able to begin processing their trip; the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual impact that this experience will have on the rest of their lives.
Paul shows four relationships in which this wise living can be seen by submission through the filling of the Spirit: One Another, Wives and Husbands, Children and Parents, Employees and Employers. In regards to one another, Paul calls the body of believers to put others before themselves, to not be self-seeking. Our individuality is not the priority, our unity is. We submit "out of reverence for Christ" (v.21). Wives submit as to the Lord, while husbands love them as Christ loved the church. Children obey because it is right and fulfills the fifth commandment, while parents are to instruct and train their children rather than exasperate them. Employees obey with respect, fear, and sincerity of heart as obeying Christ, while employers should treat them the same way. Ultimately none of these relationships are about us, but revolve around Christ and His relationship with us. When we are filled with the Spirit and submit in these relationships as He has called us to, we point others to the wonderful work of Christ. Our submission and leadership is a picture of Christ's perfect submission and humble servant leadership. It really is magnificent. Pray:
Father, this can be a hard teaching to follow. Help us understand Your word and will. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we can live wise, as light. Thank You for Your Son's perfect submission and Your perfect plan. You are perfectly wise. Amen.
Challenge:
In which of the four relationships has God placed you? Think about your role (church member/leader, husband/wife, child/parent, employer/employee) and consider your recent attitude and actions. Are you submitting as to Christ with respect? Are you leading as a servant, with love and respect? Do you need to change? If so, pray and develop a plan of action to create a permanent change.
CLIMB DAY 11
The final descent. Laughter has returned, along with sanity. The descent yesterday brought our team back to "normal" altitudes and the effects of altitude sickness are wearing off. The hike today is 3.7 miles downhill to Mweka Gate. This trail is used for all climbers descending from the summit trail our team used, so it is full of the chatter of many accomplished climbers, as well as those who didn't make it. Our team will use this time to reflect on the past week. They have experienced a great trial together and are now finishing together.
Mweka Gate is at the base of Kili on the eastern side of the mountain (as opposed to where the Lemosho trail took our team up from the western side). Here our team will have an opportunity to write in the National Park's Log for all Kili climbers. They will be happy to get off their feet and climb into the vehicles that will return them to civilization, fresh food, and hot showers. They will stay tonight in the same hotel as when they first arrived. After hot showers, clean clothes, and full bellies, they will have time to meet and debrief together, sharing stories and lessons learned on the mountain. While this trip was physically about the mountain, it was also about their own spiritual journeys. They met nightly with their team chaplain and studied through Ephesians just as we have. They will undoubtedly be more unified with one another through this trip, and they will undoubtedly be more unified in Spirit with their Father in Heaven.
Pray for a safe final day on the mountain. Pray for their drive back to the hotel and good rest. Pray that they would be able to begin processing their trip; the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual impact that this experience will have on the rest of their lives.
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