Friday, August 23rd | Ephesians 5:15-33

Passage:
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk ​— ​not as unwise people but as wise ​— ​16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, 30 since we are members of his body. 31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 32 This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband. -- Ephesians 5:15-33 (CSB)

Song:
Covenant by Bethany Barnard

Lyrics:
Oh the Covenant, that we are living in
It's more than rings on hands
It's a yes to the unknown
And in seasons of drought
Or when famine comes around
We go to the storehouse
To the one who is always faithful

We are holding on, holding on
Yes we are holding on to Him
As He is holding on, holding on
To our Covenant

Oh we can feel the ache, a sovereign
Hand turns the page
What was easy to say
Is now staring us down
Is it till death do us part
Or till a change of heart
Feelings go so far, but
Where are we when they're gonе

We are holding on, holding on
Yes wе are holding on to Him
As He is holding on, holding on
To our Covenant
Oooooooh

We reflect the greater story
Of our King and His bride
We're not hidden, but shine brightly
Bearing with us in the night
Ooooh

We are holding on, holding on
Holding on to Him

Prayer:
Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
-Book of Common Prayer