the Fourth Week after Easter
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
December 12 - Straight Thru the Bible
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Ephesians 5:15-6:24
Chapter 5
15 Be very careful, then, how you live(z)—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity,(aa) because the days are evil.(ab) 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.(ac) 18 Do not get drunk on wine,(ad) which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,(ae) 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.(af) Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks(ag) to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Instructions for Christian Households(ah)
21 Submit to one another(ai) out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands(aj) as you do to the Lord.(ak) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church,(al) his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands(am) in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives,(an) just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her(ao) 26 to make her holy,(ap) cleansing[b] her by the washing(aq) with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself(ar) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.(as) 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives(at) as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.(au) 31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."[c](av) 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife(aw) as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Chapter 6
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.(a) 2 "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."[a](b)
4 Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children;(c) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.(d)
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(e) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(f) just as you would obey Christ.(g) 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(h) doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(i) 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(j) whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours(k) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(l) with him.
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord(m) and in his mighty power.(n) 11 Put on the full armor of God,(o) so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,(p) but against the rulers, against the authorities,(q) against the powers(r) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.(s) 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,(t) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,(u) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,(v) 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.(w) 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,(x) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.(y) 17 Take the helmet of salvation(z) and the sword of the Spirit,(aa) which is the word of God.(ab)
18 And pray in the Spirit(ac) on all occasions(ad) with all kinds of prayers and requests.(ae) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying(af) for all the Lord's people. 19 Pray also for me,(ag) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly(ah) make known the mystery(ai) of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador(aj) in chains.(ak) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final Greetings
21 Tychicus,(al) the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are,(am) and that he may encourage you.(an)
23 Peace(ao) to the brothers and sisters,[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[d]
Philippians 1-2
Chapter 1
1 Paul and Timothy,(a) servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God's holy people(b) in Christ Jesus at Philippi,(c) together with the overseers(d) and deacons[a]:(e)
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.(f)
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God every time I remember you.(g) 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray(h) with joy 5 because of your partnership(i) in the gospel from the first day(j) until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion(k) until the day of Christ Jesus.(l)
7 It is right(m) for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart(n) and, whether I am in chains(o) or defending(p) and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8 God can testify(q) how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love(r) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,(s) 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,(t) 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness(u) that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains(v) for Christ. 14 And because of my chains,(w) most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.(x)
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.(y) 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition,(z) not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.(aa) 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers(ab) and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ(ac) what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d](ad) 20 I eagerly expect(ae) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage(af) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,(ag) whether by life or by death.(ah) 21 For to me, to live is Christ(ai) and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart(aj) and be with Christ,(ak) which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Life Worthy of the Gospel
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy(al) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm(am) in the one Spirit,[e] striving together(an) as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you(ao) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer(ap) for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle(aq) you saw(ar) I had, and now hear(as) that I still have.
Chapter 2
Imitating Christ's Humility
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,(a) if any tenderness and compassion,(b) 2 then make my joy complete(c) by being like-minded,(d) having the same love, being one(e) in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.(f) Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,(g) 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.(h)
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:(i)
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,(j)
did not consider equality with God(k) something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing(l)
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,(m)
being made in human likeness.(n)
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death(o)—
even death on a cross!(p)
9 Therefore God exalted him(q) to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,(r)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,(s)
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,(t)
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,(u)
to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(v) 13 for it is God who works in you(w) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(x)
14 Do everything without grumbling(y) or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless(z) and pure, "children of God(aa) without fault in a warped and crooked generation."[c](ab) Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ(ac) that I did not run(ad) or labor in vain.(ae) 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering(af) on the sacrifice(ag) and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.(ah) 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Timothy and Epaphroditus
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy(ai) to you soon,(aj) that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him,(ak) who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests,(al) not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father(am) he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.(an) 24 And I am confident(ao) in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker(ap) and fellow soldier,(aq) who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.(ar) 26 For he longs for all of you(as) and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,(at) so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,(au) 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.(av)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
