Sincerely | In simplicitate

Serve sincerely as you would serve Christ - Eph 6:5.

Are you sincere - before God, yourself, and others?

Only those who know their value as children of God can be truly sincere. Like young children, they haven’t learned how to deceive yet. Children are naturally honest when asked a question; they respond spontaneously, without calculating or overthinking. That is why we love children.

As we mature, however, we often become slaves to the opinions of others. We begin serving their expectations, constantly trying to please them. As a result, we fall into using white lies and deceiving others.

The Apostle Paul teaches us how to respect ourselves and one another: treat others as you would treat Christ. Remember that you live in the constant, loving presence of your heavenly Father. As Christians, it is our calling to live as true servants of the Lord. Therefore, we are to do the will of God from the heart (Eph 6:6). Only when we choose to fulfill God’s will can we serve with true joy and enthusiasm. Otherwise, we grow weary, lose heart, and become discouraged. God the Father rewards those who are sincere in heart.

For this reason, we must imitate the Son of God - Jesus Christ. He exercised His power in truth and righteousness, completely clothed in the armor of God. Even in His humanity, He lived continuously in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. In this way, He stood firm against the schemes of the devil (Eph 6:11).

Let us reflect on our own spiritual lives. Do we truly rely on God’s power and strength, or do we rely on our own human strategy against evil? We can be certain of victory only when we put on the whole armor of God. Human words and actions alone are far too weak to overcome evil.

Let us obey our heavenly Father, for this is right (Eph 6:1). Let us also honor and love those around us as we share the Good News. May we raise our families and encourage one another in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4).

Reflection on Ephesians 6:1-11 by Józef.

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As God in Christ | Sicut et Deus

Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you - Ephesians 4: 31-32.

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Reflecting on the pastoral writings of St. Paul in Ephesians 4:17-32. I’m reminded that I’m given a new life in Christ. I'm also reminded how I can reflect more and more of Christlike behaviour, with the help of the Holy Spirit: by showing kindness & being tender-hearted to all who are also created in the image of God. 

In his homily, a newly ordained priest had reminded us that there’s bound to be difficult people who will cross our paths in life. What if these people are permitted by God to mold our characters to be kinder & more patient with one another? In the words of the young priest, what if these people are the very saint-makers whom God has appointed to shape us into His Son’s likeness and help us to stay on the narrow path to our common sainthood, of showing God’s mercy, grace and kindness to all? 

I love the core Salvation Army motto “Heart to God, Hand to Man”. I will close my short sharing with this much-loved hymn: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. 

Verse 1 

What a Friend we have in Jesus, 

All our sins and griefs to bear! 

What a privilege to carry 

Everything to God in prayer! 

O what peace we often forfeit, 

O what needless pain we bear, 

All because we do not carry 

Everything to God in prayer! 

Verse 2 

Have we trials and temptations? 

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged, 

Take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Can we find a friend so faithful 

Who will all our sorrows share? 

Jesus knows our every weakness, 

Take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Verse 3 

Are we weak and heavy-laden, 

Cumbered with a load of care? 

Precious Savior, still our refuge-- 

Take it to the Lord in prayer; 

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? 

Take it to the Lord in prayer; 

In His arms He'll take and shield thee, 

Thou wilt find a solace there.

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/TAyaXdvvbGU?si=EJwwuFRMSU0kjjob

Author: Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1855) Public Domain

Reflection on Ephesians 4:17-32 by Chris Tan

Exceeding abundantly | Superabundanter

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us – Ephesians 3:20.

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As we read Ephesians, it's important to keep in mind that the apostle Paul writes this epistle from Rome, where he was under house arrest. Despite some liberties, he was still a prisoner while writing this epistle as we read in Ephesians 3:1 he calls himself ''the prisoner of Christ''.

Ephesians 3:14-21 is a prayer from the apostle Paul on behalf of the church of Ephesus. What a powerful and deep prayer! The apostle Paul prays that believers would be strengthened by the Spirit, know Christ's love, be rooted in that love, and experience the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:16–19). 

This prayer is not about external circumstances. It is about the strengthening of the Ephesians' inner being (verse 16). This is an important reminder to pray for others so that they may have inner strength and peace despite their circumstances.

In Ephesians 3 verse 20, just before the end of the prayer, the apostle Paul's language emphasizes superabundance: God's capacity is far above what we ask or think. In this verse, the apostle Paul combines Greek words into a unique double compound word that literally means "superabundantly above the greatest abundance" or "beyond all measure.  From verse 20 we can definitely see how God is sovereign and omnipotent in all situations.

Paul concludes his prayer with these words: “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” (Ephesians 3:21). When God accomplishes something far beyond what we anticipated, the appropriate response is thankfulness and praise.

From Paul's prayer we can see that we should trust God's limitless power and then receive what God chooses to accomplish/provide us. Always give Him all the glory, in all circumstances.

God's love for His children is boundless, endless and measureless (verse 18). Therefore, we can bring God our deepest desires and problems while trusting that His plans for us are much greater than the limits of our understanding. Amen.

Reflection on Ephesians 3:14-21 by Hanne