the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
November 26 - Historical Order
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Ephesians 4-6
Chapter 4
Unity and Diversity in the Body of Christ
1 Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord,(a) urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility(b) and gentleness, with patience,(c) accepting[a](d) one another in love,(e) 3 diligently keeping the unity(f) of the Spirit(g) with the peace(h) that binds us. 4 There is one body and one Spirit(i)—just as you were called to one hope[b](j) at your calling— 5 one Lord,(k) one faith,(l) one baptism, 6 one God(m) and Father(n) of all, who is above all and through all and in all.(o)
7 Now grace was given to each one of us(p) according to the measure of the Messiah's gift. 8 For it says:
When He ascended
(q)
on high,
He took prisoners into captivity;
[c]
He gave gifts to people.
(r)[d]
9 But what does "He ascended" mean except that He[e] descended to the lower parts of the earth?[f](s) 10 The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens,(t) that He might fill[g] all things.(u) 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,(v) 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son,(w) growing into a mature man with a stature(x) measured by Christ's fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching,(y) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head(z)—Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together(aa) by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth(ab) of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
Living the New Life
17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their thoughts. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. 19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity(ac) with a desire for more and more.[h]
20 But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, 21 assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth(ad) is in Jesus. 22 You took off[i](ae) your former way of life,(af) the old self[j](ag) that is corrupted by deceitful desires; 23 you are being renewed[k] in the spirit(ah) of your minds; 24 you put on[l](ai) the new self, the one created(aj) according to God's likeness(ak) in righteousness and purity of the truth.
25 Since you put away(al) lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, (am)[m] because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. (an)[n] Don't let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don't give the Devil an opportunity. 28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share(ao) with anyone in need. 29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need,[o] so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don't grieve God's Holy Spirit.(ap) You were sealed by Him[p] for the day of redemption.(aq) 31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind(ar) and compassionate(as) to one another, forgiving(at) one another, just as God also forgave you[q] in Christ.
Chapter 5
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. 2 And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us,(a) a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3 But sexual immorality(b) and any impurity(c) or greed(d) should not even be heard of[a] among you, as is proper for saints. 4 Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. 5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral(e) or impure(f) or greedy(g) person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom(h) of the Messiah and of God.
Light versus Darkness
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God's wrath(i) is coming on the disobedient because of these things.[b] 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light(j) in the Lord. Walk as children of light(k)— 9 for the fruit of the light[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth(l)— 10 discerning(m) what is pleasing(n) to the Lord. 11 Don't participate in the fruitless(o) works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear,(p) 14 for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:
Get up, sleeper,(q) and rise up from the dead,(r)
and the Messiah will shine on you.[d](s)
Consistency in the Christian Life
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time,[e](t) because the days are evil. 17 So don't be foolish, but understand(u) what the Lord's will(v) is. 18 And don't get drunk(w) with wine,(x) which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:(y)
19 speaking to one another
in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
singing and making music
from your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another
in the fear of Christ.(z)
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives,(aa) submit[f](ab) to your own husbands(ac) as to the Lord, 23 for the husband is the head of the wife(ad) as Christ is the head(ae) of the church. He is the Savior of the body.(af) 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives,(ag) just as Christ loved(ah) the church and gave Himself(ai) for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[g] her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.(aj) 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of His body.[h]
31
For this reason a man will leave
his father and mother
and be joined to his wife,
(ak)
and the two will become one flesh.
(al)[i]
32 This mystery(am) is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.
Chapter 6
Children and Parents
1 Children, obey(a) your parents as you would the Lord,[a] because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother , which is the first commandment[b] with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. [c](b)[d] 4 Fathers, don't stir up anger(c) in your children, but bring them up in the training(d) and instruction of the Lord.
Slaves and Masters
5 Slaves, obey your human[e] masters(e) with fear and trembling,(f) in the sincerity(g) of your heart, as to Christ. 6 Don't work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God's will(h) from your heart.[f] 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men,(i) 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening(j) them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(k) with Him.(l)
Christian Warfare
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.(m) 11 Put on(n) the full armor(o) of God so that you can stand against the tactics[g] of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh(p) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,(q) against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil(r) in the heavens.(s) 13 This is why you must take up the full armor(t) of God, so that you may be able to resist(u) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14 Stand,(v) therefore,
with truth(w) like a belt around your waist,
righteousness(x) like armor on your chest,(y)
15 and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.[h]
16 In every situation take the shield(z) of faith,(aa)
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(ab)
17 Take the helmet(ac) of salvation,
and the sword(ad) of the Spirit,(ae)
which is God's word.
18 Pray(af) at all times in the Spirit(ag) with every prayer and request, and stay alert(ah) in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness(ai) the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador(aj) in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should.
Paul's Farewell
21 Tychicus,(ak) our dearly loved brother and faithful servant[i] in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me so that you may be informed. 22 I am sending him to you for this very reason, to let you know how we are and to encourage(al) your hearts.(am)
23 Peace to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father(an) and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.[j][k]
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