Ephesians 5:4

Well this is tough, after spending time reading this passage (5:1-21), someone could write for days about this stuff, and even more so, I have found how the whole passage works together to be very insightful and impressive, but with the theme of taking one verse I chose this one.

Ephesians 5:4 "Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving."

Right away I am going to include Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

When I read 5:4 I immediately thought of 4:29, and it really just pointed out how important what we say is. I think of the times I am just hanging out with my roommates, and I think do I talk about foolish things, or make some crude jokes, things that are out of place or not fitting of the occasion. And I realize that my time is riddled with corrupting talk. If my words are not glorifying God then I am not portraying Him as supreme to unbelievers. How powerful of a evangelistic tool is that, every word out of your mouth glorifies God. That would be amazing.

I am reading "The Pursuit of Holiness" by Jerry Bridges, it is an amazing book so far, very easy read, quick, and very solid. Read it. But like the name suggests, we need to focus on being holy, because He is holy we are to be holy, God will accept no less. It is an active pursuit on our part, we need to work, but it is by the work of Christ that we are enabled to work. Before we were just slaves to sin, we had no opportunity to do otherwise, we had to sin. But now that we believe we are able to fight sin. So one huge thing in my life lately, my one 'goal' I guess, is to be holy, and not just a list of do's and don'ts but a mindset, and a satisfaction with God, which actually is a command, we are to be joyful, it is commanded of us just like not murdering someone. So that is a prayer request I guess. I am very thankful that the Spirit has opened my eyes to this, and has in numerous ways, it is essential to our walk. Just think, does the perfectly holy God want to spend time with unholiness and sin?

So regarding this verse, I want my words to be 'holy' a fragrant offering to God, that my words would please Him. Even the little things like a crude joke matter to God, all of our life should be holy, and I pray that in our lifelong pursuit of this God would be powerful in our lives.

Ephesians 4:29

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Paul just got done writing about how important the body is, how it builds itself up when it works properly. Which is interesting in itself, he says that when you are doing well in your faith, it helps me, when I am running strong to the finish line, it will help you with your walk with the Lord, when we all work well imagine the strength we have. Also he gives a list of all kinds of things the body includes, Apostles, teachers ... I would guess that none of us are called to be Apostles, but we are all called to run hard after the goal, and we can all do this, which will in turn build the body up in love.

So on to this verse. He really emphasizes what comes out of our mouth. This is also seen in James, where he talks about how the mouth can destroy, and that we praise God with our words and also tear things down with it, we can only serve one master, which one does our mouth serve? This also makes me think of what we say when we are not around someone, I feel I focus on the bad too much, does that help build the body, is that loving, no. I need to talk in a manner that will only build up, never tear down, I should never say something to a friend that will encourage bad behavior, I should also be a light to the world with my words, should I talk about someone behind their back or make snide remarks, by no means, I should do the opposite, when someone is gossiping I should build that person up.

We should also say only that which fits the occasion. There is a time and a place for what we say, we have to think about what we say, you know, think before you speak. Because words can have a huge impact, good or bad.

By the grace of God I pray that He would give me strength to do these things. To build up the body and to encourage others.

Ephesians 4:24

Ephesians 4:24 "and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

What I want to say about this verse is simply something that I never noticed about it before. At the very end of this section/paragraph, he throws in there sort of a reason why we should do these things and put off our old self, because we were created in the image of God. We were made to be like God. That was what God had in his mind when he created Adam, someone to emulate and show the Glory of God. But we fell, we are on the road to getting back to this likeness, and it is interestingly only through Jesus, the physical representative of God. We were made to be like Jesus, we have two legs like Him, we have a head, eyes, we can smell all because He can. Jesus wasn't made as a response to the Father creating man, He created us, He was there and formed Adam. So we are 'expected' to live holy lives because that is why we were made, not because God simply wants us to, but it is our PURPOSE, we exist to radiate God's Glory. That also means that we get to enjoy God forever as well, He is not some far off blob or strange being that we will never comprehend (we will never completely understand the character of God, but we can relate to Him), He came to earth as a man.

Also he says "true righteousness" that must mean there is a false one, right? When I read that I think of all the 'religions' people make, there are so many people who say that whatever they believe is good enough, that if everyone thinks they can get to heaven they can. Well that is not the Heaven I want to go to. God is our standard, there is one truth, everything else is a fake, there cannot be more than one truth, they would have to be the same thing. Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me." No one comes to the Father but through Jesus, there is one way.

So how does these things change your outlook on life, where do we go from here?

Ephesians 4:17

Ephesians 4:17 "Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds."

First we must remember Paul is writing to a group of Gentiles, so in essence he is saying "remember what you used to do, and don't do those things." He is saying that as Christians they must set themselves apart from their old lifestyle. That reminds me of what we are called when we first believe in the Gospel, we are a "new creation" we must put away the things of the flesh and put on the things of the Spirit. I think this is first and foremost to give glory to God through our works and to sanctify us, and secondly I think this is a great evangelistic tool. When people see the Power of God working in our lives, to physically change the way we live, it is a testament to how real the Truth of the Gospel is. So how do I set myself apart from the rest of the world? I think that is something we should all think about? If someone I have never met, sees me with my roommates, will I be set apart, will that person say, "he lives for God" or "he truly loves God" I would say that I do not set myself apart from the flesh very much at all. So that is just on the outside, what about the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus is teaching that the thing that really matters is the heart, so even though on the outside I don't set myself apart very much, what people cannot see is not very different either. I am sinful to the core. But once again we are "new creations" we have been given a "new heart" not one made of stone. So God is working in us, we must be patient, so that our trials and tribulations will be "complete, lacking in nothing." I need to be much more diligent in prayer, for it is God's work within me, and not me who is working, so I need to petition to Him to change my desires. And always remember that "He who started a good work within you, will bring it to completion on the day of our Lord Christ Jesus," the work will get done, and it will be done by God, I am glad I do not have to rely on myself to do it, because I would fail miserably. I do. So I guess, we need to submit to Him, we need to "lay our burdens on Him" for "His yoke is light" trust in Him for the work to be done, enjoy God and a free life in Him and from Him, and let Him take care of the work within us, don't worry about yourself and where I am in my faith, just focus on Christ, enjoy Him and His gifts, praise Him for Himself and His gifts, and the rest will "fall into place".

I want to love Jesus so much, I want to enjoy Him so much, I want my worship to burn so brightly, that the world sees how special He is, not just to me but to everyone, and I want that to set me apart.