Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Reading Through the Book of Ephesians (My Writer’s Perspective)




As a writer, I pay attention to form. Balance. Movement. I study how the words sit beside each other, how the ideas stack, and how the author uses rhythm to teach, build, and stir the reader. When I read Ephesians, I immediately recognized the symmetry.

This was not just a letter. It was a blueprint.

Ephesians teaches us how to live as spiritual—Spirit-filled—Christians.

From identity to action. From calling to conduct. From grace to growth. Paul lays it all out like an architect sketching the life of a believer with bold, Spirit-led strokes.

I felt that.

This book was short, but rich. Weighty. Balanced. The structure was unmistakable. The first half is all about what God has done for us. The second half is all about what God wants to do through us. That alone makes this book an exceptional piece of spiritual writing. It moves you from understanding to action without losing the wonder.

From a writer’s perspective, Paul opens this letter with theology that sings.

“Blessed be the God… who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…”

That sentence was long, lyrical, and loaded. Paul poured praise and doctrine into the opening like he could not hold it in. The tone was reverent. The pace was fluid. It read like a doxology wrapped in deep teaching.

And then, Paul began to unpack it.

He reminded us that we were chosen. Adopted. Sealed with the Spirit. Rescued from wrath. Raised with Christ. Seated with Him in heavenly places. The way he spoke about identity was intentional. He wanted believers to know who they are in Christ before ever asking them to behave like Christ.

That was Spirit-filled writing. And wise writing.

There was no rush into rules. Paul wanted to elevate our thinking before he corrected our living. He wanted us to feel the weight of grace before we tried to walk it out.

By the time I reached chapter 4, the tone shifted. Gently.

“Therefore, walk worthy…”

That was the hinge. The turn. The pivot. From theology to transformation. From seated with Christ to walking in love. Paul began to list how spiritual people actually live: united, humble, mature, truthful, pure, loving, forgiving.

He was not just giving Christian ethics. He was giving evidence of Spirit-filled living.

This book painted a full picture: personal integrity, relational harmony, marital love, parental instruction, and spiritual warfare. Nothing was left out.

One of my favorite sections was chapter 5.

“Be filled with the Spirit…”

That phrase hit me as both a command and a lifeline. It reminded me that being spiritual is not about performance. It is about presence. Paul did not say, “Try harder.” He said, “Be filled.” That’s transformation through surrender, not striving.

From a writer’s view, the metaphors Paul used were powerful. Light and darkness. Body and head. Temple and cornerstone. Armor and battle. These images were not random—they were strategic. They helped spiritual truths stick.

And the armor of God in chapter 6? That was the climax.

Paul closed the letter like a general preparing his troops. But he did not just hand them gear—he explained its purpose. Truth. Righteousness. Peace. Faith. Salvation. The Word. Prayer. These were not just metaphors. They were Spirit-tools. And that mattered, because the battle is spiritual.

As a Spirit-filled believer, this book encouraged me. But as a writer? It amazed me.

It had form. Tone. Clarity. Strength. The sentences were packed, but never bloated. The ideas were layered, but not confusing. Paul wrote like a teacher with fire in his bones—Spirit-led, Spirit-carried, and Spirit-anchored.

My favorite line?

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more…”

That was not just a benediction. That was a promise. A praise. A reminder that spiritual living is not limited to what we see—it is driven by what God can do through us when we are filled with His power.

Ephesians taught me that the spiritual life is not just about prayer and worship. It is about how I walk. How I speak. How I submit. How I fight. How I love.

It is not just about being saved.

It is about being sealed.

And then being sent.

This was not just a letter. It was a call to live Spirit-filled every day.