Sunday, September 02, 2007

Ephesians 6 yesterday's Daily Bread - Psalm 68 Today's

Children and Parents

1Children, 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 of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise. 3And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother, "you will live a long life, full of blessing." F12

4And now a word to you fathers. Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. 7Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

9And in the same way, you masters must treat your slaves right. Don't threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

The Whole Armor of God

10A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. 11Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. 12For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.

13Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. 15For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. F13 16In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. F14 17Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere.

19And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words as I boldly explain God's secret plan that the Good News is for the Gentiles, too. F15 20I am in chains now for preaching this message as God's ambassador. But pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Final Greetings

21Tychicus, a much loved brother and faithful helper in the Lord's work, will tell you all about how I am getting along. 22I am sending him to you for just this purpose. He will let you know how we are, and he will encourage you.

23May God give you peace, dear brothers and sisters, F16 and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24May God's grace be upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.


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FOOTNOTES:
F12: Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16.
F13: Or For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God.
F14: Greek by the evil one.
F15: Greek explain the mystery of the gospel.
F16: Greek brothers.


Psalm 68
For the choir director: A psalm of David. A song.

1 Arise, O God, and scatter your enemies.
Let those who hate God run for their lives.

2 Drive them off like smoke blown by the wind.
Melt them like wax in fire.
Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.

3 But let the godly rejoice.
Let them be glad in God's presence.
Let them be filled with joy.

4 Sing praises to God and to his name!
Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the LORD—
rejoice in his presence!

5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

6 God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But for rebels, there is only famine and distress.

7 O God, when you led your people from Egypt,
when you marched through the wilderness,

Interlude

8 the earth trembled, and the heavens poured rain
before you, the God of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.

9 You sent abundant rain, O God,
to refresh the weary Promised Land.

10 There your people finally settled,
and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
you provided for your needy people.

11 The Lord announces victory,
and throngs of women shout the happy news.

12 Enemy kings and their armies flee,
while the women of Israel divide the plunder.

13 Though they lived among the sheepfolds,
now they are covered with silver and gold,
as a dove is covered by its wings.

14 The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

15 The majestic mountains of Bashan
stretch high into the sky.

16 Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
where the LORD himself will live forever?

17 Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.

18 When you ascended to the heights,
you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
even from those who rebelled against you.
Now the LORD God will live among us here.

19 Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
For each day he carries us in his arms.

Interlude

20 Our God is a God who saves!
The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death.

21 But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.

22 The Lord says, "I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.

23 You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
and even your dogs will get their share!"

24 Your procession has come into view, O God—
the procession of my God and King
as he goes into the sanctuary.

25 Singers are in front, musicians are behind;
with them are young women playing tambourines.

26 Praise God, all you people of Israel;
praise the LORD, the source of Israel's life.

27 Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

28 Summon your might, O God.
Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.

29 The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
to your Temple in Jerusalem.

30 Rebuke these enemy nations—
these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Humble those who demand tribute from us. F48
Scatter the nations that delight in war.

31 Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
let Ethiopia F49 bow in submission to God.

32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
Sing praises to the Lord.

Interlude

33 Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
his mighty voice thundering from the sky.

34 Tell everyone about God's power.
His majesty shines down on Israel;
his strength is mighty in the heavens.

35 God is awesome in his sanctuary.
The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!


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FOOTNOTES:
F48: Or Humble them until they submit, bringing pieces of silver as tribute.
F49: Hebrew Cush.