Devotion for 25 May 2011 Anno Domini (Eph 5:1-14) “1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved

Devotion for 25 May 2011 Anno Domini (Eph 5:1-14)
“1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Eph 5:1-14)


God has always placed before us two different ways of walking – there is not one way only, and there are not three ways. There will always be the RIGHT WAY and the WRONG WAY. There were Two Trees in the Garden. Adam did not choose the Tree of Life (Jesus Christ) but the way of the world in the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The first Psalms presents two ways of walking – one righteous and one unrighteous. So this text today presents us, in the first two verses, the manner of walking which is pleasing to God. Since walking in Christ is simple to define, there are only two verses devoted to this walk. The remaining twelve verses are used to describe the wicked way and to warn against it. Wickedness is fraught with confusion and drunkenness, so as a result, more words must be used in describing it.

“ Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” When a boy of four or five years of age, my grandmother (Granny Mae) used to take me to town for shopping on Saturdays. She always promised to buy me a ‘play-pretty’ (toy) and she always did. I love her beyond words! In order to keep my childish mind occupied and out of trouble, she told me, as we walked along the city sidewalks, that I “must avoid stepping on the joint-cracks of the sidewalk.” She told me that to do so was akin to stepping on your grandmother’s grave. My entire walk was focused on “avoiding the cracks” because I loved Granny Mae too much to dishonor her! I followed my grandmother’s counsel implicitly – and I still catch myself trying to avoid the cracks when I walk on the sidewalk today. This story is akin to the counsel that the Lord has given us, only very serious and very true. He has taught us how to live, what to believe, what to avoid, how to walk in love, and how to avoid dangers. Should we not follow Him as a precious child followers his parents, but more so? Christ has also warned us against associating with the stranger to righteousness.
“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Not only has Christ given us good counsel and beautiful stories in the night (Pslams and Parables), but He also gave us His very blood as a propitiation for our sins. He loved us more than our mother could ever love us. He did more for us than any man (even if willing) could ever do. Christ has told us: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:13-14) Did He lay down His life for you?
“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.” Fornication is defined as consensual sex between any two parties not married to each other. It is a grievous sin and includes adultery and sodomy. Moreover, it is unclean. Many diseases, some deadly, are transmitted by way of this sin. Amazingly, covetousness is ranked among those sins which are serious and unclean. It is more serious than jealousy. It seeks not the same kind of wealth or possessions of another, but the very possessions themselves of the other person. It destroys, and leads to murder, lies, and theft. Such wickedness should be so incredible to the known character of a saint that it should never be voiced in the midst.
“Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” Those things which do not edify should not be engaged in. Foolish talking (and even vain prayers), off-color jokes, and all of the filthiness of body and speech must be cast away and not drawn up again with the Christian. There remains sufficient numbers of blessing for which we should return thanks to leave no time for vile and foolish allurements.
“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Not that many who belong to God have not engaged in these sins before salvation, but after knowing the Grace and Love of God, how can one turn back to these base sins. Peter gives a stern warning regarding this: “But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:22) This describes the natures of dogs and pigs, but not sons and daughters of God.
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Paul gives the warning, for the occasion will certainly arise for the attempt. God’s wrath is even more greatly kindled against the lost for engaging in stratagems to deceive the Elect of God. “Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Regardless of their worldly stature or political power, do not become complicit in their sins through participation. ‘NO’ is a fairly common word of only two letters. Remember to use it when efficacious to your soul!
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” We were truly the children who sat in darkness but who have now seen a great light. “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2) It is not possible to see great light without being recipients of that light to brighten our eyes, our faces, our countenance, and our souls. And if that light falls upon us, we become reflectors of that light. Are we children of Light? If so, there must be a natural father of that Light. Who must this be? “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17). There is no variableness in that great Father of Lights. He is constant and more absolute than the nature of that physical light we observe in the universe. Moreover, there is no shadow which comes between that Light source and its recipients such as there is which falls upon the earth from the rotation of the earth during hours of night.
The fruit of the Tree of Life is a wholesome fruit and always bearing the qualities of its source: “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” If we possess that Spirit as our constant companion, we, too, should exhibit these traits.
“Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” Proving by our lives an acceptable offering to God of ourselves.
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Not only avoid complicity with those who do the works of darkness, but reprove them in their wickedness. (How can this be accomplished without allowing God’s Word to judge them?) If God says a sin is a sin, are we judging when we pronounce an adulterer a sinner? No, God’s Word has so judged!
“For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” We are cautioned more than once to avoid making light of grievous sin. Not only do we avoid these subjects in casual conversation, but also avoiding making light in jest. Paul, again, gives warning to us in how we view such sins: “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:32). Enjoying the entertainment of movies which depict adultery, homosexuality, and ungodly language is also a means of taking pleasure in the sins enumerated by Paul.
“But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” If you have that Light of Christ, you will reprove all sins that attract your notice. The quality of Light is to reveal. We stumble in the darkness until a torch is brought to light the way – to reveal pitfalls, ditches, and stones in the way. The wicked love darkness. They creep in the shadows believing that their evil deeds are covered. They are much like the snail which crawls out at night and eats the vegetables for which he did not labor. As soon as dawn begins to approach, he immediately heads for the darkness of a rock under which to shelter from the Light. There are two things a snail cannot abide – salt and light! David says of them: “As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.” (Psalms 58:8) Christians are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-14). Are you?
“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Do not be caught sleeping at the moment of His Coming. If you are dead in trespasses and sins, be quickened by the Spirit and made alive. The domain of death is total darkness, but the Kingdom of God is all Light! Receive the Light!