1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”
4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
REFLECTION:
It is inevitable for Christians to encounter difficulties in doing works for God. Unbelievers and evil spiritual powers will often attack God and His people. They put forward a friendly gesture (4:2) as to seek for partnership, but the underlying purpose is to take the opportunity to defeat and threaten us (4:4-5), and even to frame us (4:6). If you can see through their tricks, the enemies will not prevail. When difficulties come, we should boldly act according to God’s plan, trusting God and looking carefully at how He leads us to overcome the difficulties. Remember in all eras throughout history, God’s people would always encounter difficulties. We just have to rely on the Lord and He will lead us into victory. When you are in despair and fear, you can surely overcome the difficulties and fulfill God’s will through the mutual support of brothers and sisters in Christ.
PRAYER:
Ask God to guard your life and you works, not to let you suffer from enemy’s attack and fall into Satan’s trick. Ask God to give you courage and faith so that you can put your hope in God and boldly fulfill His will in difficult times.
8 Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the Lord. 9 And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,
“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”
And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.
REFLECTION:
Why did the Israelites build the temple before the city walls? It was because the temple was for people’s spiritual needs while the walls were for their military and political needs. The Jews understood that only God is their protection, strong walls would not be able to save them if God left them. They knew that maintaining a healthy spiritual life is more important than strengthening national defence. Today you have different needs in your life. Reflect if you put your spiritual needs as the top priority.
The temple was rebuilt fifty years after its destruction. When the old people saw that the new temple was not as grandiose as the old temple, they started to weep. There were shouts for joy and also voices of weeping at the scene, weaving a picture of mixed feelings. Actually the beauty of the temple is not important to God. He cares more about the heart of the builders and worshippers. God values who we are more than what we achieve. The world is ever-changing and any great achievement will fade away in a flash. We just have to serve God with all our heart and not compare our achievements with others. Do you feel inferior and depressed because your achievement is not as great as others? Reflect what God values the most in you.
PRAYER:
Ask God to open your spiritual eyes, give you heavenly wisdom, and help you understand your spiritual needs are the most important needs in your life. Ask God to give you a humble, obedient and holy heart. Remove your desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes and pride of life, so that you could concentrate in serving God.
1 Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah…
64 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers. 66 Their horses were 736, their mules were 245, 67 their camels were 435, and their donkeys were 6,720.
68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments.
70 Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel in their towns.
REFLECTION:
Genealogy was the most important proof for the Hebrew. If they could not prove to be the descendants of Abraham, they would not be regarded as Jews. This would lead to discrimination and they would not be able to fully integrate into Jewish social life. Therefore, the Jews found out and affirmed their identity through their genealogy. Reflect how do you know that you have a place in heaven. How are you sure that you are the child of God?
When the temple was rebuilt, everybody contributed according to their ability and willingness, some even generously offered their rich wealth. Such a huge project required everybody’s cooperation and sacrificial offering. Today we may think that we have offered a lot through tithing but the Bible tells us to offer everything from the bottom of our heart. Reflect if you could only offer the leftover portion to God today, or you willingly offer all your gifts to God according to His calling.
PRAYER:
Thank God for adopting you to Himself as son or daughter. Pray that God will give you a humble heart, and mold your character to live a holy life that is commensurate with the status of God’s child. Dedicate yourself to God and tell Him you are willing to offer everything to Him according to His calling for pleasing Him.
In the fifth century BC, many Judeans were returning from exile to the southern part of the land of Israel. They faced great difficulties: their capital city and temple had been destroyed, foreigners had moved in, and they were no longer ruled by their own king. But the books of Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah insist that God’s people can still fulfill his purpose. They must form a unique society centered on the worship of God in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. (These books are really one long book, telling a continuous story; one can see, for example, how the end of 2 Chronicles overlaps with the beginning of Ezra.)
The book presents a sweeping chronicle of Israel’s history, beginning with a long genealogy or ancestor list. Going all the way back to Adam, it situates the people of Israel among the nations and reminds them of their calling. Special attention is given to Judah, ancestor of the royal line of David, and to Levi, ancestor of the priests and temple attendants.
The second main part describes the kings who ruled in Jerusalem down to the time of the exile. David receives more attention than others, but many details of his life told elsewhere are left out. The focus is on his military campaigns and his elaborate plans for the temple in Jerusalem. The reason is clear when we see that David was not permitted to build the temple because he was a warrior. God wanted a man of peace to build the place where all nations would come to pray. The honor therefore fell to David’s son Solomon. More space is devoted to him than to any king besides David, describing his construction of the temple and the splendors of his reign.
The final part of the book relates the experiences of the returned exiles. The memoirs of Ezra and Nehemiah, leaders of the second generation of returned Judeans, are incorporated into the history. These leaders helped create a distinct community by forbidding intermarriage with the surrounding peoples, and they directed the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. Included here is a description of a great covenant renewal ceremony led by Ezra and Nehemiah.
An important theme of the entire history—which can appropriately be called a temple history—is that pure worship is offered on God’s terms, not ours. God has chosen Israel to welcome the nations into true worship. Through all the ups and downs of history he is working to bring this purpose to fulfillment.
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem.
REFLECTION:
God stirred up the spirit of Cyrus King of Persia, so that he made a written proclamation that allowed the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem. He also stirred up the heart of the leaders, parents, priests and Levites, so that they had a desire to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Major changes are often originated from changes within people’s heart; courageous actions come after our hearts are transformed by God. After 48 years of exile, the Jews changed from arrogant to humble while both their attitude and desires were changed. God stopped punishing them and gave them the opportunity to return to their homeland for a new beginning. Paul once reminded us, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). In order to obey God’s will, we should begin with the willingness in our heart. Reflect if our dedication for following and serving God has turned cold and the reason why. Are you willing to open yourself humbly and accept the opportunities God gives you? If yes, God will give you a fervent heart to desire for His Word and to follow Him closely, so that you can serve Him actively and your spiritual life will continue to grow.
PRAYER:
Come before God quietly and reflect on the reason why your pursuit of faith becomes lukewarm. Repent to God and ask Him to examine you and touch your heart, give you the passion to follow Him and serve Him so that you will forget what lies behind, strain forward to what lies ahead, and press on toward the goal.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
REFLECTION:
Paul examines mutual responsibilities of children and parents (v1-4), and of slaves and masters (v5-9). Paul reviewed the teaching of this letter, picturing the resources God had provided as a soldier’s armor (v10-20), and closes with brief greetings (v21-24).
Ephesians is a book about the church. In it Paul presented Christ’s church as a body, a family, and a holy temple. Each of these images calls for Christians to live together in love and unity. It is this dominant theme of the book that helps us understand the nature of the devil’s schemes, and the armor God has provided us to use in withstanding them. Simply, the devil’s schemes in Ephesians are his strategies for disrupting the unity of the church. And the armor of God is God’s resource for maintaining unity.
Use the following as you pray about your fight in spiritual warfare.
Dear God,
Keep my mind free from worry and from being controlled by my own plans. Instead, I ask for the mind of Christ. (Helmet of salvation)
Thank You that Jesus died for me that I can be righteous in Your sight. Please give me a heart of love like Christ’s. (Breastplate of Righteousness)
Please help me see the truth about myself and the situations around me through the mirror of Your Scriptures. (Belt of Truth)
Help me to be aware of the nudges of the Holy Spirit today everywhere I go and help me to be ready to share the gospel on these nudges. (Shoes of Gospel of Peace)
Help me to trust You and believe that You are always with me. (Shield of Faith)
Come Holy Spirit and empower me today. (Sword of the Spirit)
PRAYER:
At the time of writing, Paul says he is “an ambassador in chains” (v.20). Remember that though we are weak, God’s strength is what sustains us and is most visible to others. Ask God for boldness in living for Him in spite of our insecurities, infirmities, and inexperience. He gives His children grace in abundance.
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
REFLECTION:
Paul continued on the subject of walking in a manner worthy of the calling, he urged them to follow God’s example and live loving (v1), holy lives (v2-14), responsive to the Holy Spirit (v15-18) and to one another (v19-20). Christlikeness is especially to be demonstrated by mutual submission in the Christian home (v21-33).
We are encouraged to follow the example set by God Himself. This would be impossible if it were not for the fact that we are His “beloved children” (v1). As God’s children, His own life is planted deep within us. Because of this new life, it is now possible for us to actually be like God or to become like God. Therefore, we are to decide if we will become what we are in Christ, or if we will settle back down into living a mere human life.
Stay quietly for a few moments dwell on the words “imitator of God” (v.1). What comes to mind, Excitement? Joy? Shame? Disappointment? Frustration? Fear? Talk to God about it.
Talk to God as a child to a father. Tell Him how you would like to imitate Him.
PRAYER:
In this list of common sins (v. 3-4), we often make exceptions for ourselves and justify what we do and how we feel. We even choose to listen to people and ideas that allow us to continue living in sin (v. 6). But God’s desire is for us to love selflessly. Ask the Lord to help you remember Christ’s selfless love for you so that you can leave your sin at the cross and the justifying to God alone.
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
REFLECTION:
Paul encouraged them to preserve unity (v1-3), he laid down the foundation for unity (v4-6), listed the many gifts God has given to the church (v7-11), and explained how to use these gifts in love and truth in order to build up the body of Christ into maturity (v12-16). Starting verse 17, Paul began to admonish believers who have put off the old self and put on the new self to start living the new life in true righteousness and holiness. The last part of this chapter, Paul encouraged believers to live a holy life.
The church is a diverse body composed of many different people who must give attention to preserve their unity. The Spirit gives gifts to every believer so that, by all of us exercising these gifts, we will build each other up to be more and more like Christ, thus to preserve the unity of the church.
This list of gifts (v11) is by no means exhaustive. Similar lists appear in Paul’s other letters. Here, Paul says that the purpose of these gifts is “to train Christ’s followers, so that the body of Christ may be built up”.
What gifts has God given you? How are you using them? Thank God for the gifts he’s given you and other members of the church. Pray that you will do your part to help build up the church.
PRAYER:
We are a work in progress. Do you see how Christ is working in you? If you dare, ask him to help you to work on the areas in your life that you don’t want to change. We all have these things. God intends to leave no stone unturned for your sake and for His Glory (v. 15). Remember, the Spirit is also working in you for the good of other brothers and sisters (v. 16)
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
REFLECTION:
In the second half of the previous chapter, Paul looks at the salvation for the Gentiles. Through Christ’s dying on the cross, Gentiles and Jews are reconciled and became one in the new community – church. In this chapter, Paul explained that the goal of his ministry is to display God’s wisdom in bringing different peoples into a unified church (v1-13). Since God has blessed us so greatly, Paul prayed that believers (and all Christians) would comprehend fully the extent of God’s love for them (vv. 14-21).
Paul repeatedly mentions “love” and “power” in this passage. He earnestly desired that God’s people be “rooted and established in love” in order that we have power “together with all the saints” to grasp and know the love of Christ (vv18-19). How can we grasp or understand love? By experiencing the width and length and height and depth of the love of Christ. What do you learn about power and love in these verses?
The mark of a truly spiritual church is still, “See how they love one another.” With today’s passage in mind, pray for your church that you, as a church family, may bear the mark of “loving one another” and may experience deeply the love of Christ.
PRAYER:
God’s power is at work within us! But perhaps more incredibly, He is using that power in a way that is beyond our wildest dreams and for things that we wouldn’t dare ask or even have the sense to ask (v. 20). We can trust in our faithful God because there is a strength and security in his love that the Spirit uses to enrich us (v. 16-17)
1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
REFLECTION:
Paul explained how all spiritual blessings given by God (Ch. 1) actually became reality to each believer. He contrasted what the believer was before regeneration with what he or she is after. All the glory for the change goes to God who provided salvation for people. God gave us life and called us to good works, that His grace might be displayed. We do not need to do good works to merit salvation.
One of the best-known verses in the book of Ephesians is 2:8, “By grace you have been saved, through faith.”
Focus on God’s graciousness to you in the past days, weeks and months. Allow yourself to experience the depth of his goodness. Respond to Him in prayer and praise.
Sing “Amazing Grace” meditatively and continue conversation with God.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now, I see.
T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear.And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snare, we have already come.
T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far and Grace will lead us home
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’ve first begun.
PRAYER:
Consider how you have sinned against God today. This may become clearer if we think about how we have sinned against other people. If you can’t think of anything, ask our merciful God to show you (v. 4). Remember that you were made with a purpose and that you can only live that out fully through His grace. (v. 8-10). We can be thankful that we will certainly do so because He has already prepared the way (v. 10).
Traditionally named Ephesians, this letter may not actually have been written to the believers in Ephesus. Some of the best early copies of the letter don’t include the phrase in Ephesus in the greeting. While Paul spent two years in Ephesus, this letter appears to address people Paul has never met.
Paul here presents a two-fold pattern, first explaining the new identity believers have in Christ and then bringing out the implications for their new way of life. God has brought everything together under the rule of the Messiah, exalting Jesus above all things. Paul echoes a phrase from Psalm 8—God placed all things under his feet—to show that Jesus is the truly human one. Jesus fulfills the original human calling to rule over the creation properly. Jews and Gentiles have been brought together into one body, with Jesus at the head. God is now creating one new humanity from all over the world through the reconciling work of the Messiah.
This means Jesus-followers must give up their former way of life and practice purity in daily living and integrity in their relationships. The reciprocal responsibilities of those in and under authority are used as key examples of the new kinds of relationships God is expecting. Paul cautions his readers that they are entering a spiritual battle. They must arm themselves with all the resources God has provided, until the Messiah brings unity to all things in heaven and on earth.
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
REFLECTION:
Paul began the body of his letter by revealing the spiritual blessings that God has planned for believers in His Son. (v3-14) He then prayed that they would appreciate and appropriate these good things in their own lives. He moved from benediction to intercession.(v15-23)
Paul’s prayer for the believers is that they might come to know God intimately (v17). This is so that we might better appreciate all spiritual blessings God’s given us:
The past: calling to salvation that gives us hope (v18), the future: inheritance that we constitute for God (v18), and the present: power of God available to us (v19).
God manifested this power in the past in Christ’s resurrection and ascension (v20-21). He will manifest it in the future by making Jesus Christ the head over all creation (v22). He is now manifesting this power in Jesus Christ’s headship over the church (v23).
When you pray for fellow Christians, how do you usually pray for them? In what ways would you like your prayers be more like Paul’s?
Use Paul’s prayer in vv17-19 to pray for the individuals in your church. How does praying this prayer affect your appreciation of God, yourself, the individuals you are praying for? What will happen if your group prayed these verses every week for each other? Try it and see.
PRAYER:
Who are you thankful for and what about them moves you to feel this way? Ask God to give them the same Spirit of wisdom and revelation that Paul describes (v. 17).
