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Eph 5:3-21 (ESV)
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 associate 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. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
"Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Okay, today’s passage is part of a larger passage that we’ve been looking at, starting at 4.17 and going through our passage for today. It’s a continuation of the theme of living for Christ and letting Him transform us so that we give glory to the Lord in all that we do.
Here, Paul continues his contrast between walking in the way of the world and following the voice of Jesus. There is also another captivating contrast between darkness and light. I find it fascinating that Paul tells the Ephesians that they were once darkness (vs. 8, not in darkness but that they were darkness), but now they are light, so they need to strive to live as children of the light.
I also love verse 18, which encourages us to be filled with the Spirit. It’s a call to pursue the Spirit in all that we do and let the Spirit move through us so that we bring the Lord glory. When we pay attention to the presence of the Spirit working in and through us, it changes how we work and move in this world. We suddenly are different. We see things differently, and we act differently as we make choices that reflect the presence of Jesus in our lives. In doing so, we become that fragrant offering.
Finally, a word is repeated throughout the passage: walk—walk in love, walk as children of the light, walk as wise. It’s living out of our faith in this world as the tangible external evidence for all to see the internal transformation of our lives as we walk in step with the Spirit.
The challenge for you and me today is to relentlessly pursue the Spirit in our work and let the light of Christ shine through us.
That is a great challenge. Paul believes Christians should look different in what they do and say from the rest of the world. Do we look any different from everyone else by what we do and say? Are you that fragrant aroma of Christ to the people around you?
God bless you and know that you are constantly in my prayers.
Scott
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