STARK REMINDERS
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Opening Prayer
Father, as I come before you, reveal to me where I am still living in darkness of thought or action. Please shine your light of love on me.
Read EPHESIANS 5:3–20
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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 person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
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 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are there times when you are tempted to see God’s law as restrictive and not for your good and his glory?
Paul exhorts the church in Ephesus to live wisely, not unwisely (v. 15). When we read wisdom literature in Scripture, such as Proverbs or even the letter from James, it presents us with a stark choice between two ways of living. Will we take the path leading to life or the path that is filled with darkness? This style of writing is blunt and we may not be used to it. We must recognize that wisdom is not about being given a moralistic scolding, like a naughty child in a classroom. Wisdom comes from someone who puts their arm around our shoulders to speak hard but necessary truths. Wisdom, therefore, only comes from someone who loves us deeply enough to challenge us.
Paul’s words here should challenge us, but they do so out of love. We are called away from immoral, impure, and improper actions and thoughts, not to try and get right with God, but because we already are God’s beloved. In a similar vein, the call to a new way of living is not born out of our energies alone, but by being filled continually with the Spirit.
The verb for ‘be filled’ (v. 18) with the Spirit is a continuous verb in Greek. This does not translate easily into the English language, but a good way of understanding this is ‘be filled with the Spirit, again, and again, and again’. When we are confronted with the reality of our sin, Paul encourages us to ask the Spirit to make his presence known to us afresh and for Christians to speak truth and encouragement to each other. We are to saturate ourselves in the songs and psalms of God, as well as with the presence of God himself.
Apply
Spend time with music and with others, expressing praises to God today.
Closing prayer
Holy Spirit, fill me afresh today, and overflow in ways that make your presence known to others around me.
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