Tag Archives: hope

Unity!

Posted on November 9, 2016 by Don Merritt

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond … Continue reading →

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The Power of Prayer

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Don Merritt

Ephesians 3:14-21 This text is a prayer that Paul gave for the Ephesians, a prayer of power and of selfless love for the saints, a prayer that deserves our review and emulation. Notice that as he begins this prayer, Paul … Continue reading →

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God Has a Plan

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Don Merritt

Ephesians 3:1-13 Isn’t this an interesting little chunk? Paul mentions “mysteries” several times here, and likens these “mysteries” to the “administration of God’s grace”; what could he be referring to? He mentions a mystery that was made known to him … Continue reading →

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Reconciliation in Christ

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Don Merritt

Ephesians 2:11-22 Paul, in these verses, completes the picture he began in the first 10 verses of this chapter that we covered earlier by tying together the picture of God’s redemption and reconciliation of all people. It is important to bear … Continue reading →

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Alive!

Posted on November 7, 2016 by Don Merritt

Ephesians 2:1-10 Beginning here in chapter two, Paul reminds us of how we have been made alive in Christ. It’s a funny thing, but I nearly added the word “again” to that sentence, but Paul’s point is not that we … Continue reading →

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Prayer, Power and Potential

Posted on November 6, 2016 by Don Merritt

Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul continues his opening of this letter by moving on from the glorious things he has been saying about our redemption into giving thanks for it. Yet as we continue reading this section, I’m sure that you, like … Continue reading →

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A Guarantee

Posted on November 5, 2016 by Don Merritt

 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for … Continue reading →

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Off to a Fast Start

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Don Merritt

To a large degree, chapter one is an introduction to the letter. In the first two verses, Paul identifies himself and addresses his recipients in his usual style, and then he jumps into his introduction beginning in verse 3. These … Continue reading →

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A New Adventure Beckons

Posted on November 4, 2016 by Don Merritt

  Having completed our adventure in Ecclesiastes yesterday, a new adventure beckons: Ephesians.  It has been some time since I have written here about this amazing letter… and it’s about time to go through it in detail. Paul’s letter to … Continue reading →

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Concluding Thoughts on Ecclesiastes

Posted on November 3, 2016 by Don Merritt

Reflecting upon the end of the matter as Solomon stated it, life under the sun now is about what it was at the time Solomon wrote his book: Meaningless! When our time on earth is completed, we will die and … Continue reading →

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