Give Thanks Always

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 4:31-32; 5:1-21.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

-Ephesians 5:20-21

In this lesson we’ll look at various Scriptures from Ephesians chapters four and five. In this Scripture Paul is telling us how we should live as children of God. He tells us that we have to forgive others. Holding un-forgiveness in our hearts hurts us more than it does the other person. Many times when people hurt us we tend to hold grudges or un-forgiveness in our hearts. When we forgive them it releases us from bondage. It helps relieve stress in our bodies and helps us to not have anything in our heart against others or against God.

Paul reminds us to walk in love. This is not something that is easy to do on your own, but, having God in your heart will help you. Paul warns about immoral behavior that we should stay away from such as bitterness, wrath, anger, fornication, and covetousness. When we sin, we hurt God, we hurt ourselves and we hurt others.

Paul reminds us that we used to walk in darkness, but now we are children of light. He tells us to not walk as fools, but as people who are wise. We have to be careful what we put in our hearts and minds. When we put good things in, good comes out, when we put evil in, evil comes out.

You’ve probably heard the children’s song that says, “Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little feet where you go, and be careful little hands what you do.” We should protect ourselves from listening, saying, seeing, going, and doing things that aren’t right.

There may have been places you went before you were a Christian that you shouldn’t go to any more. There may be music you listened to that you shouldn’t listen to any more. There may be television shows that you used to watch that you shouldn’t watch any more. These things may cause you to sin or slip back into your old way of life. God wants us to have pure hearts and live pure lives.

Paul encourages us to be filled with the spirit by speaking in psalms, singing hymns and giving thanks always to God for all things.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 5:1-21

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Things to think about:

• As Christians how should we strive to live?

• What are some things as Christians we should we stay away from?

• What do you give thanks for?

• Who should we give thanks to?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this letter from Paul explaining to us how we as children of God should live. Help us to keep our bodies clean and pure before You. Help us to be forgiving to others. Lord, we know we can’t do all these things without Your help.  Thank You for forgiving us. Help us to be filled with the Spirit by singing, praising You, thanking You and keeping Your Word in our hearts and minds. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

– Ephesians 5:20-21

This is an excerpt from Give Thanks by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

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Give Thanks

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Featured Book:

Give Thanks

by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

About the book:

Give Thanks is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends. Give Thanks contains 21 Daily Bible Reading lessons that remind us to have an attitude of gratitude and to be thankful and grateful for everything.

Each lesson contains a brief commentary, Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer for the day. Give Thanks is a great Bible study for individual or group Bible studies.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

Four of Deborah’s friends contributed to the book and one of her friends contributed pictures of nature to remind us to be thankful for God’s creation. May God bless you as you read this book and remember all the things you have to be grateful for and to “Give Thanks” with a grateful heart.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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