The world, and even more importantly the church, needs truth-tellers, not pacifiers. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Look around, many of God's towers are empty. Pick a wall, become a watchman, and let us never underestimate the power of a new heart in Christ Jesus!
See my last post, The Power of a New Heart, on Ephesians 4:17-32
In Christ, you are a child of God. You're an heir to the Kingdom and blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. It is only by His grace that you have been saved and He's empowered you with inner strength through His Spirit. Christ has made His home in your heart and now He invites you to come boldly into the presence of God and to keep united with His body. Your eyes have been opened. Everything is different! You're learning to walk worthy, in humility and gentleness, with patience and forgiveness.
Imitate God, since you are the children he loves. Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 GW
Imitate God; mimic Him. What does that mean? Study Him, especially His character and imitate, especially, His love. I think about a child watching his dad, whom he loves and who loves him; he wants to be like him. So he walks with him—he watches him—and he follows in his footsteps.
We are image bearers, made new in Christ, so the closer we walk with Him, the more we'll reflect His nature. This is how it was meant to be; male and female reflecting God's image. We lost it, but Jesus restored it.
So set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Put to death, therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature. . . .Col 3:2-3,5 NIV
Walk in love; follow His example; love like Jesus. I need reminding of this constantly. Jesus said, "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you" (John 15:12). He always raised the bar. He didn't just say love as you love yourself; He said, love as I have loved you—sacrificially— unconditionally. Wow, now that's a tall order; one we can not take lightly. If you know Jesus, it's easy to love Him like that, but others, well that's a bit more difficult. So how do we do it? Jesus is essentially saying that if you love me, you will love others. It's a posture of the heart. Get to know Jesus intimately and you will live and love differently.
Don’t let sexual sin, perversion of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you. This is not appropriate behavior for God’s holy people. It’s not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either. Instead, give thanks to God. You know very well that no person who is involved in sexual sin, perversion, or greed (which means worshiping wealth) can have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Ephesians 5:3-5 GW
Paul is describing idolatry. Idolatry is when you put anything before God in your heart. Funny thing is, we try so hard to avoid sin by implementing a bunch of rules and boundaries. Instead, what we need is a worship change; a pivot of the eyes from self to God. As we follow Him, our lenses change.
Now I know that Paul is speaking to Christians and not the world, but I can't help but wonder how much pain I could have avoided had I surrendered to Jesus early in life. Even more so, imagine how perfectly the world would fit together had we followed His design in all things as He created them to be.
For instance, Paul begins with sexual immorality. I know most people's hair just stood up. Okay, I'm just going to say it—God created sex for marriage between one man and one woman, who fit together as one, reflecting Jesus and His bride. I know I am not supposed to say any of that, but I didn't, He did; I just happen to agree with Him. Now did I always agree with Him? Nope, I can't say that I did. And I think that's Paul's point. Before I met Jesus, my boundaries were as I saw fit. That's what we do. From the beginning of time, we decided to make things up as we go along, following feelings and desires, making a billion little designs rather than following the Creator's perfect design.
Don't miss what Paul is saying; he's saying that if you're God's kid, you will not follow the world, you'll follow Him. God's kids imitate Him. Looking for approval in sex, impure things, greed, obscenity, foolish talk or coarse jokes; this is not who you are anymore. If you are alive in Christ you can not continue to do these things and have peace.
Don’t let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God’s anger comes to those who refuse to obey him. Don’t be partners with them. Ephesians 5:6-7 GW
Human nature is much easier pulled down than it is pulled up. Early in my walk, I was deceived by someone who lured me away from my commitment to God. I praise Him everyday that He pulled me back quickly. Knowing I'd make the wrong choice, He still let me make it. Why? Because He loves me. I know God, so I know it hurt Him to watch me wander and hurt myself, but He allowed it in order for me to see where I was lacking in trust; where I chose myself over Him. Because I turned from my sin, He forgave me and He remembers my sin no more. But I choose to remember so I am reminded of that awful feeling of turning away from the One who gave up everything for me.
The reason I was deceived is that although I believed in Him in my heart, I did not yet know Him. Believing without knowing left me vulnerable. It's impossible to understand Him, much less be like Him, without taking the time to get to know Him. Everything Godly is upside-down in the world. What used to make sense to me no longer makes any sense at all, and what now makes sense would have never made sense to me in the past. Seeing things through God's eyes makes all the pieces fit together perfectly.
He's a loving God—a just God—and He fiercely protects His kids. After all, He gave up everything to make sure that we would be with Him forever.
Will you keep seeking to know Him more and more? Believe it or not, you already possess all the power to walk in love, wherever He may lead you.
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