Daily Bread 2011 - Ephesians 5
Daily Bread 2011 – Ephesians 5:1-5; 15-20
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What Does This Mean?
Paul challenged us yesterday to live a life worthy of the calling we have received in Christ Jesus. Today, he fleshes out more of what that might look like in our lives. First and foremost, he urges us to “be imitators of God”. We know we become like those we emulate or set ourselves in the pattern of. If our focus and standard is God, we will become what we think about most or pattern ourselves after.
Paul also gives us guidance in saying, “But among you there not be even a hint of sexual immorality”. That is a challenge to us here in Southern California (and really anywhere!) as we are besieged by sensuality, lust in all forms of media etc… I.e. There are millions of sites on the internet just a click away for anyone who would want to dabble in sexual immorality, if only via the computer.
Paul also advises us not to get “drunk on wine”, which leads to “debauchery” (a big word for basically partying and sexual immorality that we often see on college campuses). So why is he saying all of this?
What Does This Mean For Us?
Let me be the first to admit none of us our immune to all of these temptations. Every day there are new challenges and new temptations we all face. If we want a temptation free life, we would have to be escorted out of this world. So how do we face all these temptations?
For me the key is in verse 1. Paul says “as dearly loved children live a life of love”. And then we are reminded of the love Christ gave us in sacrificing all of his life for us. Leading a life worthy of our calling is not about trying harder or “white knuckling it” every day so we don’t sin. I believe the more we understand God’s love for us and fall in love with Him, that our desires will be changed so as to want to live a life worthy of our calling. Let me say for me there have been victories and defeats in my life, but what keeps me going is God’s great love for me and us in His Son Jesus.
And secondly, the key to our new life is being filled with the Spirit. Simply put, we can’t do it on our own, we need help! And God has given us all we need in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person, and Paul tells us to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit (v.18). Meaning, it is not a one-time event only when we are baptized, but our how life is a daily baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yes we receive the Spirit when we come to faith in Jesus and are baptized, but our whole lives we are taught to grow in our understanding of God’s grace and the power of His Spirit.\
Gracious God as we seek to lead a life worthy of our calling help us to more fully understand the great love You have for us and the gift of Your Holy Spirit which helps us to be transformed into the type of person who gives You glory through what we say and do. Amen.
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What Does This Mean?
Paul challenged us yesterday to live a life worthy of the calling we have received in Christ Jesus. Today, he fleshes out more of what that might look like in our lives. First and foremost, he urges us to “be imitators of God”. We know we become like those we emulate or set ourselves in the pattern of. If our focus and standard is God, we will become what we think about most or pattern ourselves after.
Paul also gives us guidance in saying, “But among you there not be even a hint of sexual immorality”. That is a challenge to us here in Southern California (and really anywhere!) as we are besieged by sensuality, lust in all forms of media etc… I.e. There are millions of sites on the internet just a click away for anyone who would want to dabble in sexual immorality, if only via the computer.
Paul also advises us not to get “drunk on wine”, which leads to “debauchery” (a big word for basically partying and sexual immorality that we often see on college campuses). So why is he saying all of this?
What Does This Mean For Us?
Let me be the first to admit none of us our immune to all of these temptations. Every day there are new challenges and new temptations we all face. If we want a temptation free life, we would have to be escorted out of this world. So how do we face all these temptations?
For me the key is in verse 1. Paul says “as dearly loved children live a life of love”. And then we are reminded of the love Christ gave us in sacrificing all of his life for us. Leading a life worthy of our calling is not about trying harder or “white knuckling it” every day so we don’t sin. I believe the more we understand God’s love for us and fall in love with Him, that our desires will be changed so as to want to live a life worthy of our calling. Let me say for me there have been victories and defeats in my life, but what keeps me going is God’s great love for me and us in His Son Jesus.
And secondly, the key to our new life is being filled with the Spirit. Simply put, we can’t do it on our own, we need help! And God has given us all we need in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person, and Paul tells us to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit (v.18). Meaning, it is not a one-time event only when we are baptized, but our how life is a daily baptism of the Holy Spirit. Yes we receive the Spirit when we come to faith in Jesus and are baptized, but our whole lives we are taught to grow in our understanding of God’s grace and the power of His Spirit.\
Gracious God as we seek to lead a life worthy of our calling help us to more fully understand the great love You have for us and the gift of Your Holy Spirit which helps us to be transformed into the type of person who gives You glory through what we say and do. Amen.
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