–Ephesians 5.1-21–

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 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. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.  But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

 “Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwisebut as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

In our home, there is no question that I dread more than, “Do you want to go for a family walk?”

This question brings out feelings of pride, selfishness, and anger.

The unspoken thoughts of my mind race through sayings such as, “I didn’t put this on my schedule,” “I am not mentally prepared for this,” “No one is going to force me to do what I don’t want to do,” “This is not how I want to spend MY time,” and “I hate exercising,”

So, I would often say, “NO!,” before my wife was finished asking the question.

However, in the recent past, due to the desire to lose the 40 pounds of pregnancy weight that I gained, I have come to a place of begrudgingly agreeing to the pain, suffering, blood, sweat, and tears, that come with the physical activity of a family walk.

So, off we go!

I start out walking strong, both mentally and physically, but after some time has passed and some distance has been covered, I begin to perspire, to ache, and want to give up.

I now think, “This wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be,” “Let’s turn around,” “I can’t do this,” “I don’t want to do this,” “I hate this,” “Oh, sweet death, embrace me!”

In your life, there is no set of commands that you dread more than those found here in Ephesians 5.1-21.

The commands to “walk in love,” to “walk as children of light,” and to “look carefully how you walk,” filled out with the specifics of always being thankful, spending time discerning what the will of God and then actually following that will of God for you, being wise in all situations, seeking to understand all situations, making the best use of your time—meaning, always loving God and loving others, exposing the evil in the world, and always obeying God’s commands, often cause you to experience feelings of pride, selfishness, and anger.

The unspoken thoughts of your mind race through sayings such as, “God, I didn’t put this on my schedule,” “God, I am not mentally prepared for this,” “God, no one is going to force me to do what I don’t want to do,” “God, this is not how I want to spend MY time,” and “God, having to love ALL of the time is the worst!”

So, because of the sin that drives you to disobey God, you hear these commands and answer, “NO!”

You proclaim your defiance to God, your Creator and Redeemer, before He is finished speaking His perfect will for your life.

However, after you have heard and believed in the forgiveness of sins and eternal life that are yours through the person and work of Jesus Christ, you come to a place of agreeing to the pain, suffering, blood, sweat, and tears, that come with the spiritual, mental and physical activity of walking in love as Christ loved you.

You start out walking strong, spiritually, mentally and physically, but after some time has passed and some distance has been covered, you begin to perspire, to ache, and want to give up.

You find yourself thinking, “This wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be,” “I am going to turn around,” “I can’t do this,” “I don’t want to do this,” “I hate this,” “Oh, sweet death, embrace me!”

Here, in this letter to the Christians in the city of Ephesus, Paul reminds the Christians in that place that outside of Christ, they are darkness.

Outside of Christ, YOU ARE DARKNESS!

Therefore, you walk in the darkness of disobedience to God.

In sin you find pleasure and satisfaction in sexual immorality, impurity, never being satisfied with what we have and always wanting what others around you possess, while using your mouth to tear others down, to gossip, to insult, to verbally speak out filthy thoughts, and to share crude jokes.

In Christ, but still in the flesh, the saint in you still struggles with the sinner in you.

In Christ, but still in the flesh, the light in you still struggles with the darkness in you.

The beginning of Ephesians 5 speaks the good news to you that before God was finished giving Jesus the mission to live, die, and rise again, for the purpose of forgiving your sins and gifting you eternal life, to transfer you from darkness to light (Colossians 1.13), Jesus said, “YES!”

Jesus willingly agreed to the pain, suffering, blood, sweat, and tears, that came with the spiritual, mental, and physical activity of always walking in the light of God’s commands for you.

Jesus always walked in love.

Jesus always looked carefully at how he walked.

Jesus always walked as a child of light, even to the point of walking to His own death on a cross for you.

Outside of Christ, you walk in darkness.

But, in Christ you walk in the light of love.

Through faith in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, you have had your eyes opened to see the light of God’s love for you.

Therefore, walk continually and confidently, giving thanks to God with every step.

In another letter that Paul wrote to the Christian Church, he says,

…if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:1-11).

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5.1-2).