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.