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.