TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
Please read Ephesians 5:1-17
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 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. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
DEVOTIONAL
by Dr. Nehemiah Sia
In our passage for today, we are to be imitators of God as His beloved children. What does it mean to be an imitator of God? There is a positive movement: we are to walk in His love and His wisdom. Then, there is a negative movement: we must stop doing sinful works. This is because the atoning work of Christ made sure that His righteousness would be received by those who believed in His Name by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are no longer slaves but sons and daughters of the King! We are to walk in the light and not to walk in shame and darkness. We are now co-heirs with Christ, so we live in holiness and humility.
Let us grow strong in the Lord and bear fruit that will last. May each day be filled with Christ’s discipline so we can say NO to temptations by abstaining from sinful desires of the flesh, and we can now say YES to God by living honorable lives in our speech, our conduct, at home, at work, at school, and at church.
Therefore, we are to be wise because the days are evil. Let us be careful how we live as obedient children to our Heavenly Father. May the Holy Spirit help us to understand His will through God’s Word. Shalom Jubilee!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, may we walk in Your light so we can overcome the sinfulness of our hearts and our world. May we be transformed by Your wisdom and be able to discern what is right and what is wrong. May we please You, Lord, in all our ways. May we walk by making the best use of the time You have given us and to understand what Your will is. In Your Name, we pray, Amen.
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