Irvin Wasswa, Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
Ephesians 5:1-10
1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
I remember the first time I returned to my high school after I graduated. I was asked to attend a soccer game my freshman year of college and had the opportunity to pray for some of my old teammates before they played. The game itself was a great experience but things were totally different. I had only been out of high school for a semester yet felt as though I could hardly relate to the high school students who were there. The conversations taking place about high school life I didn’t have much to add, nor did I desire to add to because I had already graduated and moved on. One thought I had leaving the soccer field is that I do not desire to go back to high school!
Paul explains to the churches in Ephesians 5 (and to us) about this new reality relating to our lives. When we met Jesus and surrendered our lives to Him, everything changed! Once we lived lives in darkness, far from God. But when we trusted in Jesus, we became children of light! 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us there was a complete change which took place. We are now a new creation and are called to walk in that new identity!
Paul explains to us here how to walk in this change. We start by choosing to Imitate God (v.1). The call to imitate God is deciding to walk in love (V.2). We make the decision daily to love God and love others sacrificially. God set the greatest example of love by sending His son Jesus Christ to be the perfect sacrifice for us so we could have a relationship with Him again. Remember, in Christ its no longer all about us, but rather it is all about Him and loving and serving others (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
We also walk out this change by understanding our new identity. Listen, you and I are not slaves to sin anymore (Galatians 5:1). We do not associate ourselves with the darkness of sin and death. In Christ we are children of the light. Therefore we are to walk in the light and be a light to the world that is full of darkness. We choose to put away those sinful tendencies which we see in the passage and choose to glorify God by walking in the light: i.e., Spending time with Him and being obedient to what He says in His Word and through His Spirit.
Listen, in Christ everything is different! Why would we go back to the life of darkness and sin? Though that life appears pleasing to the eye, it will leave you empty and broken. Instead, let us live in the new identity, as children of the light, imitating God’s example of sacrificial love and daily choosing to die to our flesh and old sinful nature. Today let us choose to live different and decide to walk as children in the light, being a light to those who are in darkness all around us.
PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, I love you. Thank you for freeing me from my sin. Thank you that I don’t have to go back to my old life apart from you because in you everything is different. I pray today that I would choose to let go and lay down anything that is keeping me from walking in the light. Help me to always remember my new identity as a child of yours. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.