Stay away from the cliff!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 8 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
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. 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.
If you haven’t noticed, this section of Ephesians (4:17-5:20) has a lot to reflect on and evaluate, “How well am I doing at living as a child of God’s light?” I am grateful and desire to remind us that as we seek to more brilliantly shine the light of Christ, we have the love, grace and forgiveness of Christ when the darkness of sin rears its ugly head.
But I am grateful that God’s Spirit gets so specific to help me understand and see clearly the difference between light and darkness…walking with God and walking away from God.
These verses are no different.
They hit our heart and then guide our actions and our words.
In discussions with people, maybe especially teens and young adults, the questions that are asked in essence say, “How close can I get to the spiritual cliff without going over?” Often these questions are related to dating and physical behavior that is “ok” prior to marriage. Although I have done marriage counseling with couples that one spouse is finding no problem being overly friendly and flirtatious with a person of the opposite sex.
Don’t do it. Don’t give a HINT of sexual immorality. The goal is not how close to immorality can I get without being immoral. The goal is how far away from immorality can I stay so I give no hint that I am being immoral. The same is true of impurity and greed.
Remember yesterday’s devotion. Satan loves to get a foothold in our hearts and lead us to justify the “little things” that maybe aren’t sin but are just a breath away from it. Be careful because activity close to the line has an extreme danger of pulling us over the line.
The danger? We get a new god. We abandon our love of the true God for the love of sex, impurity and greed. With a new god set up in our heart we leave God no other choice but to take us out of his will and leave us no inheritance in heaven.
So it’s a big deal, which is why God cares enough to warn us.
He also guides us to not only not engage in it improperly, but also to not speak or listen to it in appropriately. Verse 4 guides the Christian to even stay away from the four letter words and potty talk that may not be taking God’s name in vane, but are speaking of things he has deemed good in a degrading way. Yes, God ordained sex to be a blessing in marriage. When we joke about it, speak crassly about it or degrade it, this is improper for God’s people.
Again, Satan loves to get us laughing at jokes we shouldn’t laugh at and repeating and sharing reels we shouldn’t be repeating. He loves to deceive us with the little things so we fall from the most important thing: our relationship and love for the Lord.
It’s hard, I know. In our culture that makes sex the center of so many conversations and comedic routines or laughs about the sins of the world and normalizes behavior that is anything but godly, it is hard to shine as a child of light. We may get called a “prude,” close-minded, or “better than thou” person. But in the end the approval of the world is not what we are seeking. We are seeking to glorify our Lord…and for that reason we will seek the Spirit’s help and guidance to stay far away from the spiritual cliffs and speak with words of thanksgiving that honor the Lord for who he is and all he has given to us and made us to be.
Apply: What phrase in these verses does the Spirit call your attention to today? How can he guide you to move away from activity of darkness to shine more brightly as a child of light?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me enough to warn me of the things I need to avoid and stop doing to prevent great spiritual harm to me and others. Forgive me when I fail and strengthen me to only give clear witness to being a child of your light. AMEN.
Don’t give a foothold!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 8 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Ask any sales man and what do they want, “A foot in the door.”
Ask any new college graduate who is applying for jobs and what do they want, “A foot in the door.”
When you have a “foot in the door” you know you have a chance to enter all the way. A salesman looks for any contact at a large company that could prove a lucrative sale because they know if they are given a little opportunity, it could turn into a big opportunity. The same for a college graduate (or anyone searching for a job), if they get a small break and a person gives them an interview, they know they have a chance to get hired and move up in that company.
Satan loves a foot in the door too.
He knows that if he can just get a little influence in your life, he can work his way into a larger influence. It doesn’t take much.
You get a little angry at an individual…he can open that door until you have full out hatred toward that individual.
You take a few little things from the office justifying it in some way…he can open that door until you embezzle thousands of dollars.
You take a glance at an internet page that shows sexual content…he can open that door to full immorality or adultery very quickly.
You get the idea?
It’s no wonder that as we consider living as children of light, the Spirit of God says, “DON’T GIVE SATAN A FOOTHOLD!”
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
Not stated, but implied is the opposite. Slam the door on Satan and keep him out of your heart. Rather, open the door for the Spirit and continue to allow him free reign in all you do. Because just like giving Satan a foothold leads to greater sin and its consequences, so giving the Spirit a foothold leads to greater good and blessings. Just these few verses speak to the blessings.
When the Spirit takes hold, there is greater unity among God’s people.
When the Spirit takes hold, there is greater truth that is spoken.
When the Spirit takes hold, there is greater ability to help those in need.
When the Spirit takes hold, there is less room for the influence of Satan.
And that’s a good thing.
Apply: In what areas of your life has Satan gotten a foothold? With the Spirit’s help and power remove the grip of Satan and replace it with the truth and activity of light and goodness.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I allow Satan a foothold into my heart. With your Spirit, strengthen me to slam the door on Satan and bring greater influence from you into my life. AMEN.
Is it Black and White?
This week’s devotions are based on Week 8 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Black and white.
If two issues have clear demarcation between the two lines of activity or thought, you might say, “That’s black and white.”
Black and white thinking.
This has more of a negative connotation in our society today and portrays one that is not “nuanced” in their thinking of matters. If you say morality, belief, behavior is black and white, it might not sit so well with the person with whom you are conversing.
Gray.
Perhaps one could say that our society likes to live in the gray. Living in a way that one things everything is relative or susceptible to interpretation or circumstance. Standards and absolutes are dismissed in favor of individualism or relativism.
The result?
Clarity turns to confusion.
This is true of one’s view of the word of God as well. Perhaps there are a few issues that are open for real debate and discussion, but God has given us his Word in the Bible to give blessing to everyone who reads it and believes it and lives it. However, the Word is very clear in its writing that there is a stark contrast between the things of God and the ways of the world. For the one in whom the Spirit lives, there is an understanding, belief and behavior that stands in stark contrast to the mindset, behaviors and beliefs of one without the Spirit. Paul puts it this way: (Ephesians 4:17-24)
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Did you catch the contrast?
Our old way of living driven by the old self is characterized by self-indulgence, corruption, and deceitful desires.
Our new self is leading our minds to be conformed to the will of God and our lives to exhibit the righteousness and holiness of God.
Satan loves to confuse and cloud our thinking. It makes the things of the world seem desirable and beneficial. It leads us to sin like a drug addict, loving it more every time and have a lust for the next opportunity.
“You did not come to know Christ that way.” Of course a life with Christ is in stark contrast to the deceit and deviance of the devil’s influence. A life with Christ conforms to the likeness of Christ and the righteousness of God.
Black and white? Just like light and darkness stand in stark contrast, so the life of the Christian will stand in stark contrast to the life of a nonbeliever. But what is also evident is which path provides the greatest blessing…living in deceit and darkness or living in God’s light and holiness? I pray for each of us the obvious difference is truly obvious.
Apply: Continue your chart from yesterday. What ways of thinking and behavior do you notice, especially in yourself, that are prompted more by darkness than light? By light more than darkness?
Prayer: Lord, lead me to see clearly the contrast between life with you and life without you. AMEN.
Contrast between light and darkness!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 8 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
From day one of creation the “And God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3)
contrast between light and darkness has existed. Ironically, the reality of darkness was part of a perfect world which God created. God knew that for the life he would create, a pattern of darkness and light would be important and necessary for living beings to thrive. Darkness was a time of rest and light would be a time of activity and life.
But while the importance of darkness hasn’t changed as far as rhythms of life, the cover of darkness has taken on a sinister role when sin entered the world. From that point on, the Scripture often uses the contrast between dark and light as a picture for that which is of sin and Satan (darkness) and that which is of God (light).
As we continue our journey through the book of Ephesians, this week’s focus invites us to recognize the difference between a life lived under the influence of darkness and a life lived under the influence of Light. As Paul encourages us to “live as children of light” he provides many examples of the contrast. For our devotion this morning, I invite you to make your own comparison list between activities and mindsets that are of darkness and those that are of light based on Ephesians 4:17-5:20.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
5:1 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. 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 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, O 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 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.
Apply: Make a chart on a piece of paper. Label one column: “Living as a child of darkness” and the other column “Living as a child of light” Identify behaviors and mindsets that fit into these categories. Notice the clear and stark difference between the two. Pray for God’s Spirit to help you live more and more as a child of light.
Prayer: Lord in all things and every day help me to live as a child of your light! AMEN.
How old are you anyway?
This week’s devotions are based on Week 7 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
As we grow up in life, we periodically get asked this question. Often it is a question of curiosity that is limited to simply knowing how long you have been alive on this planet. Other times, the question can be a bit loaded. It might be asked like this, “How old are you anyway?”
You see with age comes an assumed level of maturity. Different ages have different allowances for behavior. If you are two years old and you see a toy in the store that you think you have to have you may have a total meltdown right there with a screaming fit. People will look and empathize with the mom or dad and think to themselves, “Tough to have a two-year-old!” However, if a 32-year-old individual throws a similar fit, people will ask “How old are you anyway?” Why? Because we have a different expectation of behavior from a 32-year-old than from a 2-year-old.
Why is that?
We expect children to mature into adults. We expect that some of the behaviors, thoughts, and patterns of speech will change as one has more experience in this world and with people in general. It doesn’t always happen naturally. The two-year-old has parents who love him and seek to help him understand how to manage their emotions, control their temper, and act in a more pleasant way.
Growing up means ideally maturing from infancy to adulthood.
What about spiritually?
How old are you anyway?
Perhaps it’s hard to measure “maturity” on a scale or expectations for Christians that have been a Christian for one year versus 70 years. However, the expectation of maturity is certainly one the Lord desires and has provided people to help us. Paul puts it this way:
Ephesians 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
What does maturity look like? Perhaps we could identify these five things:
- We are becoming more and more Christlike in our thoughts, words and actions.
- Our faith is deeply rooted in Scripture and expresses itself in unity of others doing the same.
- Our knowledge of the Son of God and his Word of truth is increasing. We know and apply more of the Scriptures in our lives.
- We are serving with our gifts, accepting the training and guidance of Christian leaders.
- We are able to discern false teaching and the lies and deceits of Satan.
As Paul said, “then we will no longer be infants.”
Spiritual maturity only comes when God’s Spirit through his Word and those leaders he’s given to us work on our hearts, minds and actions. In fact, maturity comes much quicker and more fully when you have others around you to help and guide you. Just like a child matures in a more full and healthy way with parents who help them, so we too need a Christian community to help us along this path from infancy to maturity.
So grow up…with God’s help, the Spirit’s guidance and the support of your Christian family.
Apply: Which of the five areas of maturity are you “youngest” in? How might you be intentional about maturing in these areas?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us a life that is rooted in you. Help us to continue to grow up in our faith, maturing to be the people you have called us to be. AMEN.