Week of June 15

Lists—everybody has them. We have lists for groceries, favorite songs, and birthdays and anniversaries for those we love. Paul likes lists! We see in Ephesians 5 a list of behaviors that are proscribed for the serious follower of Jesus Christ. I know. Many of us do not like lists of Do’s and Don’ts, because we quite often resist any perceived intrusion upon our freedom. Nevertheless, I want us to examine Paul’s list of ethical standards in a different light today.

We simply must not overlook the profound call that he issues to us in Ephesians 5:1! He exhorts believers to imitate God! We should be honored to be challenged to fulfill such a noble calling. He urges us to practice godliness. You see, he knows that a true child will want to grow up to be like this loving Father. God’s dear children will want to be eager to copy Him, as He makes it possible to do so. Jesus Christ had taught them to do this very thing (5:1).

The essential catalyst for moral action. Paul widens our awareness that the petals on the flower of love are the moral ingredients of a Christian life. Rather than a list of things not to do, they provide the sweet fragrance of new life that is pleasing to God—not to mention to all around them (5:2). Some Christians typically make up their own standards for acting as they think Paul would act. Paul shows us that the catalyst for us to live lives that are pleasing to God was Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. This act made possible reconciliation with God (1:7; 2:13, 16). When Paul states it this way, we are a little less resistant to the “moral list,” right? There is more to learn today.

The motivation. The sincere Christian’s life will also prove an acceptable sacrifice to God. Our godly living, as God requires, and not some list that we create, is how God’s grace is shown to the lost and opens the way to reconciliation. Wow! I am to use my freedom like Jesus did to enable others to see the way out of slavery to sin. Now, that is a different way to view the list. My self-sacrificial lifestyle does several things. First, it shows God that I am sincere about being His child. Secondly, it also provides a fragrant aroma that is well-pleasing to God. Thirdly, it is a means by which God opens the eyes of others to see the way to being reconciled to God. I’m all in with the list. Are you?

A life filled with purity. We do away with the permissiveness of pagan society and lead sexually pure lifestyles. Immorality was a characteristic of secular existence (EBC; see application below). Greed and lust for more than we have were two other elements of life apart from Christ (5:3). I do not believe that I need to illustrate these three features of godlessness, but I will say that they represent two-thirds of the triple signs of sinful rebellion—money, sex, and power. 

Next, Paul urges serious Christ-followers to mind what they say with a three-fold proscription: obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking (5:4). Filthy language, stupid chatter, and, literally, “an easy turn of speech” are to be avoided. By this latter term, he means “flippant talk” (NIV). I imagine that he was alluding to dirty joking. In contrast to these things, Paul wants believer’s mouths to be filled with thanks to God (2:7; 5:18; Colossians 2:7; 3:15; EBC). Salvation and discipleship are serious matters and call for sincere commitment (cf. Matthew 5-7).

There is a present movement within Christian circles that protests the rigid standards of what is perceived to be the “morality of the previous generation.” There is nothing new to this sort of attitude. In fact, the Ancient Greek philosopher, Aristippus, urged people to maximize pleasure. Epicurus added a qualitative dimension to Aristippus’ quantitative approach and taught his followers to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. He also distinguished between various types of pleasure. I imagine that the Greek-speaking Christians in Paul’s day were well-acquainted with these types of thinking and approaches to life. Paul, however, redirects our moral view away from our own human reason to God’s higher calling to be Spirit-filled. We are to live worthy of the new life that Christ made possible for us. 

Here is the point. We need to be careful not to confuse an overzealous application of moral standards in a previous generation with the validity of those standards. We also must take care not to dismiss these moral behaviors as irrelevant simply because those folks did not practice what they preached. Furthermore, we certainly do not want to jettison these key signs of God’s family loyalty simply because the outside world mocks them as being too “Victorian.” Goodness, they are not associated with the 19th century Queen of England! They are actually “victorious” because they are associated with the King Jesus! The list has meaning, and we need to live it for God’s glory.

1. This may be an uncomfortable “journal moment,” but take time to write down what you resist in Paul’s list. Be honest with yourself and state why you are resistant. Ask God to open your heart to the His word that reconciles today.

2. Look at the moral “petals” on your stem of Christian love. Do they produce the aroma that God desires? If not, then make changes in your life accordingly.

3. For Families: Parents, we can help our children learn how to reflect thoughtfully upon their own behavior. This is a life skill that will serve them well as they mature. Here is one way to think through Ephesians 5 with them.

Ask them to come to the table for an afternoon snack, and have drawing paper and pencils and magic markers available. Share with them about how God wants us to live purely, summarizing Ephesians 5 from The Message. Then ask them to draw three big daisy flowers on their pages.

On the first daisy, ask them to identify things they should NOT do as a follower of Jesus. They can write one action on each of the petals. Have them share what they wrote. On the second daisy, ask them to list some things TO do, and write these actions on the daisy petals. On the third daisy, ask them to consider their own behaviors and write several things they will ask God to help them stop doing, and several things they will ask God to help them to do. Pray together and invite God to change your hearts and action where they need adjusting.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock