Because All That...Walk Like This.
Day 1
Read Ephesians 4:1-16
I love this section of this letter. It really is one of my all-time favorites because of its ability to constantly remind me of what it is that we are doing. The church that is dialed into this section of scripture and applying the four characteristics that we spent last week looking at (as found in verse 2- humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love), surely a church can’t go wrong! But it does us no good to go to it once and claim we have it. We have to keep going back and keep reminding ourselves.
Paul has done a masterful job of giving us great teaching on what has happened in our lives after we were saved, or decided to follow Jesus, and now he begins a really practical section of showing us how that faith lives out in action. It makes no sense to have the first part without the faith affecting the life it is found in. For me, the key part is where Paul describes to us how it all comes from God to us, by way of teaching the Word of God. If we lose sight of that, we lose sight of the purpose. It’s a walk. A walk in growth in the Lord. A walk in growth in growth in the Lord to maturity, which happens to be the formula for a church.
What are some examples of “wind of doctrine” and “human cunning” and “craftiness in deceitful schemes” you have seen?
How have you matured in your relationship with God lately? Be transparent and honest with yourself, this answer is for your own reflection.
How have you seen unity in the church happen by way of the teaching from God’s word? Do you have a real life example?
Why is it important to realize that this passage is written to “you all” as plural and not to individuals?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
I love this section of this letter. It really is one of my all-time favorites because of its ability to constantly remind me of what it is that we are doing. The church that is dialed into this section of scripture and applying the four characteristics that we spent last week looking at (as found in verse 2- humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love), surely a church can’t go wrong! But it does us no good to go to it once and claim we have it. We have to keep going back and keep reminding ourselves.
Paul has done a masterful job of giving us great teaching on what has happened in our lives after we were saved, or decided to follow Jesus, and now he begins a really practical section of showing us how that faith lives out in action. It makes no sense to have the first part without the faith affecting the life it is found in. For me, the key part is where Paul describes to us how it all comes from God to us, by way of teaching the Word of God. If we lose sight of that, we lose sight of the purpose. It’s a walk. A walk in growth in the Lord. A walk in growth in growth in the Lord to maturity, which happens to be the formula for a church.
What are some examples of “wind of doctrine” and “human cunning” and “craftiness in deceitful schemes” you have seen?
How have you matured in your relationship with God lately? Be transparent and honest with yourself, this answer is for your own reflection.
How have you seen unity in the church happen by way of the teaching from God’s word? Do you have a real life example?
Why is it important to realize that this passage is written to “you all” as plural and not to individuals?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 2
Read Psalm 68
This is a strange passage to read in consideration of our discussion this week. But, for some reason, Paul did use it to explain that God had given gifts to people to build the church. Since Paul thought that was a standout application for this Psalm, we should read it with similar eyes and see what we can learn. The verse Paul quotes is 18. Ok. When I read that, I don’t get the same thing. One of the reasons is because in Psalms (in our translations) it says “receiving gifts among men”, which Paul takes to quote and say that Jesus “gave gifts to men.” Is it the same? It can be in the original languages. There is no struggle here.
The main point to focus on is that this is a Psalm about Jesus' work, and we know that because Paul quoted it like that. And the Psalm is about Jesus, after coming down from Heaven, ascending back into Heaven and then distributing the gifts to the people. Now the rest of the Psalm can be read in a way of understanding that this is about God’s work and His plan.
What do you think about when you read verse 19?
What do you think verse 30 is about?
The Psalmist ends his thoughts in verse 35. How is this thought encouraging or helpful to you today?
How does today’s devotion inform your prayers?
This is a strange passage to read in consideration of our discussion this week. But, for some reason, Paul did use it to explain that God had given gifts to people to build the church. Since Paul thought that was a standout application for this Psalm, we should read it with similar eyes and see what we can learn. The verse Paul quotes is 18. Ok. When I read that, I don’t get the same thing. One of the reasons is because in Psalms (in our translations) it says “receiving gifts among men”, which Paul takes to quote and say that Jesus “gave gifts to men.” Is it the same? It can be in the original languages. There is no struggle here.
The main point to focus on is that this is a Psalm about Jesus' work, and we know that because Paul quoted it like that. And the Psalm is about Jesus, after coming down from Heaven, ascending back into Heaven and then distributing the gifts to the people. Now the rest of the Psalm can be read in a way of understanding that this is about God’s work and His plan.
What do you think about when you read verse 19?
What do you think verse 30 is about?
The Psalmist ends his thoughts in verse 35. How is this thought encouraging or helpful to you today?
How does today’s devotion inform your prayers?
Day 3
Read 1 Peter 5:1-11
When we were studying Ephesians 4:1-16 and we got to the part about prophets, teachers, evangelists, etc., I shared with you that I do not see these as giving actual titles for the church, but rather it is about the gifts that are represented. I don’t think that it is all bad to take these titles and apply them to a position in the church, I just think more caution is needed. We have to be careful to not ascribe the same thoughts that the Bible is giving to who the apostles were to what we call apostles now. In fact, the apostle one, is an interesting study. The original idea of this title included the idea of one that had spent time with Jesus. So there is technically not a real office of Apostle that can still be used today in the same way. For some denominations and churches, they use it to convey an idea of leadership among leaders. You can go too far here and I offer caution in that understanding, but when I read this text in 1 Peter, it does remind me of this idea. Peter seems to be writing to a younger leader that he is encouraging and banking on his years of experience and seniority to appeal to him. But he is not appealing for authority like we might expect, he is appealing for humility in leadership. This is different than we see in leadership today. There was no lording over the lesser, but maybe a better way to see this in our culture would be by understanding that Peter is appealing to a mentorship style more than anything.
This is a passage that is meant to be for the pastors reading it. It has general application. And since our study has taken us down the road of this thought, let’s see what is contained here. Your translation may use the word “elder” here, which I would argue is interchangeable with “pastor” or “(under)shepherd” in the Bible. Peter includes the fact that he actually witnessed the suffering of Jesus in his list of credentials.
Peter warns against certain things in this passage. How have you seen the opposite of these attitudes or character traits in the modern day church?
Which ones do you see as the most dangerous to the person that is a pastor and why?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
When we were studying Ephesians 4:1-16 and we got to the part about prophets, teachers, evangelists, etc., I shared with you that I do not see these as giving actual titles for the church, but rather it is about the gifts that are represented. I don’t think that it is all bad to take these titles and apply them to a position in the church, I just think more caution is needed. We have to be careful to not ascribe the same thoughts that the Bible is giving to who the apostles were to what we call apostles now. In fact, the apostle one, is an interesting study. The original idea of this title included the idea of one that had spent time with Jesus. So there is technically not a real office of Apostle that can still be used today in the same way. For some denominations and churches, they use it to convey an idea of leadership among leaders. You can go too far here and I offer caution in that understanding, but when I read this text in 1 Peter, it does remind me of this idea. Peter seems to be writing to a younger leader that he is encouraging and banking on his years of experience and seniority to appeal to him. But he is not appealing for authority like we might expect, he is appealing for humility in leadership. This is different than we see in leadership today. There was no lording over the lesser, but maybe a better way to see this in our culture would be by understanding that Peter is appealing to a mentorship style more than anything.
This is a passage that is meant to be for the pastors reading it. It has general application. And since our study has taken us down the road of this thought, let’s see what is contained here. Your translation may use the word “elder” here, which I would argue is interchangeable with “pastor” or “(under)shepherd” in the Bible. Peter includes the fact that he actually witnessed the suffering of Jesus in his list of credentials.
Peter warns against certain things in this passage. How have you seen the opposite of these attitudes or character traits in the modern day church?
Which ones do you see as the most dangerous to the person that is a pastor and why?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 4
Read Ezekiel 34:1-10
If you were not with us in 2019, you may not have paid much attention to these verses. Ezekiel is telling a story and teaching a lesson, but it is all wrapped up in a parable. The image of the shepherd is meant to represent the idea of those that were to care for the people of God. It is an image for the priest and pastors of God’s people. The shepherds had turned the work of caring for the people of God into a self-serving system where they were taking advantage of the people they were supposed to be helping. It is helpful to read the whole chapter, although we will not do that in the next two days of devotions. The sheep are defined as weak, sick, injured, lost, and strayed. This helps us see the call of the local church to reach out to those that fit into those categories. If the “sheep” of God are not led to what they are in need of by the “shepherds” of God, the result will be that they are scattered from the place of God still in search of what it is that they really need. This is an incredibly powerful image that the church and the people of God should pay attention to.
What do you think each of these given categories represent in this parable: weak, sick, injured, lost, strayed?
How can the ministry of the church reach those people and meet their needs better?
What should the job of the shepherd/pastor be in light of what this picture shows?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
If you were not with us in 2019, you may not have paid much attention to these verses. Ezekiel is telling a story and teaching a lesson, but it is all wrapped up in a parable. The image of the shepherd is meant to represent the idea of those that were to care for the people of God. It is an image for the priest and pastors of God’s people. The shepherds had turned the work of caring for the people of God into a self-serving system where they were taking advantage of the people they were supposed to be helping. It is helpful to read the whole chapter, although we will not do that in the next two days of devotions. The sheep are defined as weak, sick, injured, lost, and strayed. This helps us see the call of the local church to reach out to those that fit into those categories. If the “sheep” of God are not led to what they are in need of by the “shepherds” of God, the result will be that they are scattered from the place of God still in search of what it is that they really need. This is an incredibly powerful image that the church and the people of God should pay attention to.
What do you think each of these given categories represent in this parable: weak, sick, injured, lost, strayed?
How can the ministry of the church reach those people and meet their needs better?
What should the job of the shepherd/pastor be in light of what this picture shows?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 5
Read Ezekiel 34:11-24
Yesterday, we talked about the problem that is presented in this chapter. It is a problem of the called leaders, or shepherds as presented in the text, not helping the weak, lost, sick, injured, and strayed sheep get to the place where they can find what they need. It was a picture of a problem with the spiritual leaders Ezekiel was writing about. The result is that the pasture where the sheep were supposed to be, was rather empty and the sheep were scattered on every hillside looking for what they needed from other places.
God does not end the story there, because that would be depressing and discouraging. He adds a different strategy. One that is so helpful to remember that He has. He says, “Fine. If you shepherds will not seek them out, then I will go get them myself.” That’s humbling, because it reminds us that the brokenness in leadership and even in the idea of the church, does not leave the vulnerable and needy high and dry. It is also helpful because it reminds us that the answer is not found fully in the thing of the church, but rather the church finds the full answer in the person of Jesus. Jesus is obviously the fulfillment of the idea here of the Ultimate Shepherd that goes out and gives the weak, the sick, the injured, the lost, and the strayed what it is that they need.
Take time to go through all of these images presented in this part of the text and think about what they mean to us. (feed them with the good pasture, bring them into their own land, etc.)
Why is it helpful to know that the strength and fatness of the broken parts of the systems that are supposed to help those that are lesser, don’t have the final say in taking advantage of those it can take advantage of?
When you think about what Jesus has been in your life, which category best described you; weak, sick, injured, lost or strayed?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Yesterday, we talked about the problem that is presented in this chapter. It is a problem of the called leaders, or shepherds as presented in the text, not helping the weak, lost, sick, injured, and strayed sheep get to the place where they can find what they need. It was a picture of a problem with the spiritual leaders Ezekiel was writing about. The result is that the pasture where the sheep were supposed to be, was rather empty and the sheep were scattered on every hillside looking for what they needed from other places.
God does not end the story there, because that would be depressing and discouraging. He adds a different strategy. One that is so helpful to remember that He has. He says, “Fine. If you shepherds will not seek them out, then I will go get them myself.” That’s humbling, because it reminds us that the brokenness in leadership and even in the idea of the church, does not leave the vulnerable and needy high and dry. It is also helpful because it reminds us that the answer is not found fully in the thing of the church, but rather the church finds the full answer in the person of Jesus. Jesus is obviously the fulfillment of the idea here of the Ultimate Shepherd that goes out and gives the weak, the sick, the injured, the lost, and the strayed what it is that they need.
Take time to go through all of these images presented in this part of the text and think about what they mean to us. (feed them with the good pasture, bring them into their own land, etc.)
Why is it helpful to know that the strength and fatness of the broken parts of the systems that are supposed to help those that are lesser, don’t have the final say in taking advantage of those it can take advantage of?
When you think about what Jesus has been in your life, which category best described you; weak, sick, injured, lost or strayed?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
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