Good morning people who fully obey all that God has told you to do.

Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

I am drawn to the phrase put on the full armour of God.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, we don’t get to pick and choose.

We don’t get to pick and choose the parts of the armour that we like. We need to put it all on.

We don’t get to pick and choose the parts of the Bible that we like while ignoring other parts.

We don’t get to pick and choose which leaders we honour and submit to.

We don’t get to pick and choose if we honour our parents.

We don’t get to pick and choose who we forgive and who we don’t forgive.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, we don’t get to pick and choose.

Our safety and protection is found in fully embracing and obeying all that God tells us to do.

Are there parts of the armour of God (Ephesians 6:14-18) that you need to put on today?

Are there parts of Scripture that you need to obey today?

Father, You gave Your best for me. When I didn’t deserve Your love, You gave it extravagantly for me. My only reasonable response is to offer everything to You as a living sacrifice. I can only do this as I fully embrace all that You have declared in Your Word. Forgive me for picking and choosing parts while ignoring or disobeying other parts. Thank You for Your grace. I love You Lord.

Good morning people who do everything as an act of service to the Lord.

Ephesians 6:5-8 NIV Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

It is imperative that we as the people of God are known for our honour in relationships and our honour for our responsibilities at work. In fact, this must be the mark of everything that we do in life.

Working for others is akin to serving the Lord.

Do you have a “get away with as much as possible” or “give away as much as possible” mindset and attitude to your work and all that you do?

Do you serve and honour your natural boss as much as you would serve and honour the Lord Jesus Christ?

Is your work when nobody is watching as efficient and excellent as it is when the boss is standing next to you?

The greater reward is what God will give.

Do you focus more on what you are paid or on serving God in such a way that He will reward you for what you do and how you do it?

Father, it is easy to focus on my work as just being a natural job. But You have made it clear that I am to work for others as an act of love, service and obedience to You. You want my heart when I work. Forgive me for the times that I have made it about me and my paycheck. I want to honour You at work and point people to a generous and big-hearted God in all that I do. I love You Lord.

Good morning people who receive love from God and who pass it on to others.

Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Follow God’s example.

This is a powerful statement. In a world that idolises people and where positions and platforms are esteemed, it is all too common for people to aspire to be like other people.

Now, this is not completely wrong. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, the apostle Paul declared, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Walking with people who walk with the Lord should result in us being closer to the Lord and looking more like Jesus. This is true.

But ultimately and most importantly, our example is to be God. Even Paul could only invite people to follow him because he was following Christ. John the Baptist also modelled this way of living and leading. After John pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, two of his disciples left him and followed Jesus (John 1:35-37).

Walk in the way of love.

Paul points to the truth and foundation that we are dearly loved children. When we have a deep revelation of this, walking in the way of love is empowered because it is from receiving God’s love that we can freely give God’s love to others.

Our love for others is a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

While people may be the recipients of our evident love, it is ultimately God who receives most from our love for others. Everything we do is for the Lord and for His glory. When we serve others, we serve the Lord. When we love others, we love the Lord. When we give to others, we give to the Lord. It is all for the Lord.

Father, I am forever changed from receiving Your extravagant love for me through the sacrifice of Jesus. You have marked me and You have called me Your own. Help me today to freely and liberally pass Your love on to others. May my life be a living testimony of Your goodness and Your grace. I love You Lord.

Good morning people who put on your new self every morning when you wake up.

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Everything that we are looking at and leaning into from God’s Word is for the primary purpose of knowing God and Him being known on the earth through our lives. As I often say, God’s Word is not about making bad people good, but it is given to keep free people free.

Galatians 5:1 NIV It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

As free people, maturing does take effort, self-control and godly decisions. This is a beautiful thing and it is the opposite of legalism. As we behold God more, we do become more like Him. While it is absolutely a work of the Holy Spirit, there must be a participation from us.

Paul exhorts the church in Ephesus to put off your old self and to put on the new self.

Like getting up in the morning and getting dressed for your day, we are to put on the new self every morning. Clothes in the closet are only beneficial if we put them on. We are to put on the things of the Spirit as we partner with His wonderful work in our lives. There is intentionality needed to live a godly life.

Do you know that you were created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness?

What a powerful and profound mystery! What an invitation! What a responsibility!

One of the master keys to this essential transformation in our lives is the need to be made new in the attitude of our minds.

Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Godly living comes from godly thinking, and godly thinking is only possible through saturation in God’s Word and submission to God’s Spirit. Saying YES to God is an essential need in our lives every day. This is not reserved just for the moment of salvation, but it is to become a way of living.

Father, thank You for the Gift of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that He is with me and in me always. Today, I choose to yield to His good work in me. I choose to put off my old self and put on my new self which is found in Jesus Christ! Today, I choose to be holy even as You are holy. I love You Lord.

Good morning people who are maturing through intentionally feeding on God’s Word.

Ephesians 4:14-15 NIV Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 

God’s intention is that we grow up in Christ.

The length of time that we have been saved is not the measure or mark of our spiritual maturity. For some, attending church has been a habit for decades. This is great, but only to the extent that we look more and more like Jesus year after year.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 

It is essential that we as believers exercise more wisdom, discernment and self-control when it comes to what we feed on and are entertained by.

Paul instructs us to no longer be infants. Infants aren’t bad, but they are immature. A clear distinction between an infant and a mature adult is the infants inability to discern what is right and wrong, and also, what is best for them.

Do you know what is best for you? Are you giving your time and attention to what is true and noble and right? Is your time saturating yourself in the truth of God’s Word increasing or decreasing? Are you being careful and Holy Spirit led in your time on social media and entertainment?

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 

Father, Yours is the glory, the honour, and the power. My life is meant to reflect You, not the world around me. Lord, I ask You to lead me into all the truth. I choose to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus. Help me to grow up and be mature for Your name’s sake. I love You Lord.