Year Two, October 29

Be Filled With the Spirit1

Ephesians 5:1-21

1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Here is an example that is so appealing and perfect, that we may love it and follow it at the same time. We may not use the behavior of others as our pattern, and treat them as they treat us. The only standard for a Christian is Christ.

3But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Sins of the tongue are terribly common. Cheerfulness is a virtue. Holy remarks are the flowers of conversation. But those unholy allusions and distasteful jokes, that are so often praised as being very clever, should never be acceptable among the followers of the holy Jesus.)

5For 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. (The covetous person is included in this very godless group. This proves that the Holy Spirit considers lust for wealth to be just as bad as any other lust. The curse of Cain for murdering his brother also rests on the greedy. We send missionaries overseas, and yet we do not grieve over idolaters here at home. If a person worships a god of gold, are they not just as without God as if their idol was made of wood?) 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

7Therefore do not become partners with them; 8for 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), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Avoid bad company. Choose your friends only from those who are also friends of God. How can we rebuke sin if we accept as our closest friends those who openly practice it?

12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

Death hides in darkness. Life loves light. Therefore, we who have spiritual life should never do anything that we would be ashamed to be made known to the whole world. Christ has given us light. Do not hide it, nor shut your eyes to it.)

15Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, (Look around you and take care that what you do does not harm anyone in any way.) 16making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, (People who are excited by alcohol want to sing. Believers who are energized by the divine Spirit should also want to sing. But they must choose the songs of Zion, songs the Lord would approve.) 20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Our job is to make God great and ourselves little. We are to give God the glory in everything we do. We are not to seek honor for ourselves, but willingly take the lowest place among our fellow Christians for the Lord’s sake.)

^{_______________}

¹ Ephesians 5:18