Ephesians 6
Children and Parents
1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Father, give my children parents they can love and respect. Change us Lord. And ultimately, help them to find You as their Father. Help us to lead them as they should be lead, and to lead them to You by following You. Unite our family around You Jesus. Change us all Lord!!!
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.
Father, how can I raise a teenager without provoking them to anger? It is so easy to be angry at each other so often. I know Father that I can “nit pick” and get upset over trivial matters. Help me to see the bigger picture and to choose my battles wisely.
I also need Your help to instruct them in Your ways. They need You so bad, and don’t know it. First help me to give a pure and holy example to them. Help me show Your love so they see You and know You without me saying a word. But give me courage to speak of You when the time is right. Open my mind and heart to their needs and You guidance.
Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6 Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.
Holy Spirit, help me to work with enthusiasm. Help me, not to just work as if working for the Lord, but to always serve others as if I am serving the Lord. Change me so I know and follow the Lord’s will. Help me to be a really good slave to the Lord and a servant of everyone.
9 Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.
Father, do You really have no favorites? It seems impossible to me. Others have served You so well. I have served You so poorly. It says so much about Your love. The fact that You can love me with such a vast love is amazing. Help me love You as I should Father. Change me.
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Father, this is so true, and so scary. I know the real battles in my life are all spiritual. I am tempted. I am joyful for Your mercy. Maybe the physical side of my life is too easy, but the struggles are all spiritual. Satan is after my family. He is attacking my wife and my children. They are battling too. I’m afraid they don’t see it as a spiritual battle. Holy Spirit, please show us, and let us see, that there is victory in You. Help us to hold on to Jesus and to rest in Your power and love.
13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Jesus, please, keep us standing. Help us through the battle. Help us to resist. Help us to stand firm. Keep us standing Lord.
14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
Father, I failed in both of these just this week. I took the easy way out, and I bet it ends up costing me much more.
Can I really put on “God’s righteousness”? I just noticed that it doesn’t say just righteousness, but Your righteousness. I fail at being righteous every day…every minute maybe. I know You call me to live a Holy life, but protection in this spiritual battle doesn’t appear to come from my being good, but from Your giving me Your goodness.
Father, I don’t think I know how to put on Your righteousness, but I know I need it. Please show me the way. Show me how to live in Your protection and goodness. Help me be good through Your goodness.
15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
Jesus, Your Word does bring peace in the midst of a storm. Life has been a battle the last few days, but these mornings in Your word settle me down. Help me to return to Your word – to You – more and more.
16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
Jesus, the devil is attacking my family. I need a lot more faith. Please Lord, increase my faith. I am so afraid my family is about to fall apart. I personally have fallen again. Lord, please, increase my faith.
17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Jesus, I do know that Your Word is a double edge sword. When I do stand through a temptation, it is because I am quoting scripture to myself. Your Word can also cut through my own falsities and reveal my true heart and soul. I haven’t been as good at memorizing Your Word lately. Help me return to that Lord.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Holy Spirit, help me to truly pray in Your will and in You. I can mouth the words or sing the songs, but it doesn’t mean anything without You. I need You to guide my life, not just my prayers. My life feels like it is crumbling around me. Help, please help.
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
Final Greetings
21 To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work.
22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. 23 Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24 May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Father, give my family peace.
- Ephesians 6:1 Or Children, obey your parents who belong to the Lord; some manuscripts read simply Children, obey your parents.
- Ephesians 6:3 Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16.
- Ephesians 6:12 Some manuscripts read you.
- Ephesians 6:15 Or For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God.
- Ephesians 6:16 Greek the evil one.
- Ephesians 6:18 Greek all of God’s holy people.
- Ephesians 6:19 Greek explain the mystery of the Good News; some manuscripts read simply explain the mystery.
- Ephesians 6:23 Greek brothers.
*Ephesians6*