Walk as children of light

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. – Ephesians 5.8-10

At one point we were all children of darkness and we walked according to the course of this present world. Paul writes of this earlier in Ephesians when he says we walk according to course of this world and according to the plans of the devil. We were bu nature the children of wrath.

But now we are called the children of light and we are sent forth as lights into the world. In Christ old things have passed away and everything has been made new. Therefore, we don’t walk the way we used to walk.

We are even told how the children of light are supposed to walk. We walk in the fruit of the Spirit which is manifested by:

All goodness
Righteousness
Truth

When we walk as children of light we are nothing like the world around us.

Children of light are to be known by our goodness. We are to be the do-gooders more than anyone else. Others should see us a good people who do good deeds.

Children of light are to be righteous live in righteousness. We were made right with God at salvation, now our lives are to reflect that rightness to the world.

Children of light are to walk in truth, pure and simple truth. There is no room for lies or trickery or deception.

We must be that ray of light that the world needs.

Don't be deceived

For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any 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 be partakers with them. Ephesians 5.5-7

Sadly, we have to live in a sin-filled broken world. We can’t escape it. We can’t hide away in a Christian enclave or adopt a monastic lifestyle. One day the wrath of God will be poured out on these children of disobedience. Their behaviour has no place in the children of God.

So, we are not to partake of their sins. We have to live with them, but we don’t need to partake with them. We go out into the world. We go where people are. We go to work and we go to homes and we go to sporting events and wherever, within reason of course, so that we can meet people where they are because that is where they need Jesus.

In this world of darkness and confusion it is easy to get caught off guard and ticked and deceived by the wickedness of the world. As Eve was deceived by Satan he still roams the earth seeking whom he may devour. He is the master of deceit. He can trick us into thinking that we are not all that bad and that we can handle just that little taste of darkness. Don’t be deceived. God will not be mocked. You reap what you sow.

While we live in this world amongst the people of this world we cannot take part in their evil deeds. We must make a difference.

Not suitable

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. – Ephesians 5.3-4

There are certain things that just don’t suit God’s people. There should not even be a hint of them. Paul gives a short list of things here are so serious that should ‘not once be named among us.’

The part to the list that really grabs my attention today is those things at the end of the verse.

Filthiness

Foolish talking

Jesting

These things are ‘not convenient.’ Literally, they don’t suit us and all have to do with our words. It should be obvious that Christians should not be involved with filthy talk, but there us a growing tendency today to even make excuses for that. Foul language, dirty language, whatever we choose to call it seems to be more and more accepted in the church and from the pulpit. Filthiness is just that. It is dirty talk and there is clearly no place for it in the heart or mouth of keyboard of God’s people.

Foolish taking is vain and empty talk that accomplishes nothing. It is wasteful talk and stuff that is said just to be heard. It’s the kind of stuff that crams social media where everyone has the chance to show their foolishness. We have to be careful not to be dragged into it because God holds us accountable for our words.

The word translated jesting is coarse joking. This isn’t that dirty talk – it is just that coarseness that permeates speech. It is the little ‘wink, wink, nod, nod’ that is not to excite and titillate without ever really saying the dirty words. It is the kind of thing that we Christian can do all the time and get that silly little giggle.

God’s people have no room for any of this stuff. Instead we are called to be thanksgivers. This world’s talk does need us to add fuel to the fire. Instead we would make a real mark if we gave thanks for all that God does for us.

An awful lot of us need to reprioritise our speech to honour God.

Christlove

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 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. – Ephesians 5.1-2

One clear aspect of being a follower of God is to walk in love. That’s fine, but the standard of love can be a challenge. How much love are we called to walk in?

Walk in love in the same way that Christ walk and gave Himself for us.

That kind of love is quite a test. I think we all strive to love each other and I think we can do a pretty good job, buy to walk in the kind of love with which Jesus loves us is a whole nother kettle of fish.

Christlove is a love that is willing to give our all. It is a willingness to ‘lay down our life’ for others. It is a ‘hold nothing back’ kind of love. Christlove is the true picture of agape love which is willing to give it all up for others.

Of all things that characterise our lives I wonder how often it is the love of Christ. When people see me do they think about the kind of loving man I am? Do they think ‘that Roger just loves everyone?’

Christlove has a major test. It led Jesus to lay down His life for us.

Who am I willing to die for? That is the real test, isn’t it? If I am willing to lay down my life I must surely be willing to lay down my whims and desires and my agenda for the sake of others.

I do we do when it comes to Christlove? Do our lives show that same sweetsmelling savour? 

Follow God

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 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. – Ephesians 5.1-2

Be followers of God as dear children. That’s quite a challenge isn’t it? Our lives are to show Him to the world around us because there is no way for them to see Him except through our lives.

Many years ago in the US there was an anti-smoking ad. It showed a father and son together at home. When Dad cut the grass, the young son played with his toy lawnmower. When dad washed the car the little boy used a water gun to squirt the care. When the dad had a cold drink, the little guy had a cold drink. Then the dad picked up a pack of cigarettes and set it down – and the little guy reached over for it.

Though that is a very negative image of following it does show that young children learn from parents. They little boy followed what the dad did. We though, as children of God, ought always to follow His example. Only by following God can we show the world the way to our God.

There are plenty of distractions for us to follow. Most of them our not bad in and of themselves. We follow sports teams. We follow our career paths. We follow our families.

Then there are bad things to follow. We can follow our flesh and follow our desires and our lusts.

None of these things are the path we ought to follow if we are trying to lead people to our God. Our lives must honour our God so that they are drawn to Him. We say we are Christians but of we are not following Christ no one is going to see Him. We follow His example in love and holiness and righteousness and kindness and humility. We don’t pursue the ways of the world. Instead we seek to lean men to Jesus.

Where are you and I leading people today?

Just stop fighting

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. – Ephesians 4.31-32

One of the things that saddens me most about the church is our proclivity to fight each other at the drop of hat. There are some things that we just should not do and Jesus tells us that the world will know that we are His disciples by the love we have and manifest to each other.

I hate to keep bad mouthing social media, because I do like it and I use and I think it can be useful for the ministry, but at the same time I have seen it destroy friendships because for some reason folks seem to think it is okay to say things on social media that you would never say anywhere else. There is not such things as level headed discussions. Every post seems to become a fight – even among believers. Things seem to be posted to antagonise or provoke or cause a row so it gets plenty of comments and plenty of likes.

And yet here the church has to be told to put away or lay aside bitterness and wrath and clamour and evil speaking and malice. We are told to replace it with kindness and tender-heartedness and forgiveness. Any why?

Because, after all, God has forgiven us.

When I think of how God has forgiven me how can I not forgive my brothers and sisters in Christ? How can I not have a tender heart and not be filled with kindness?

Honestly, is my life marked by bitterness and anger and wrath and those kinds of things, or is it marked by love and kindness and forgiveness? It’s pretty clear cut, isn’t it.

Don't grieve the Spirit

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. – Ephesians 4.30

It is easy to think that division and quarrelling and harsh words and ‘corrupt communication’ only affect the parties involved. When we think about it though everyone around is also affected and it spreads like and cancer and the fights and divisions spread.

But that’s not the focus here. Someone else is affected that we don’t even think about.

That kind of attitude grieves the Holy Spirit of God. In other words, if we can’t get along we break God’s heart.

How sad it is when we think about breaking God’s heart. Here especially we read about the Holy Spirit sealing us till the day of our salvation is complete. He keeps us saved and instead of gratitude we can act like jerks toward each other and be self-centred, self-serving, and selfish at the cost of our relationships with each other.

Our fights and quarrels don’t just hurt each other, the hurt God as well.

Can’t we just stop the nonsense?

No corrupt communication

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. – Ephesians 4.29

Our words have great power and a powerful impact. Whoever said ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never harm me was a liar. Words hurt far worse than ‘sticks and stones’ and do far more long lasting damage.

Yet it seems like the church has fallen right in line with the world in excelling in corrupting language. It is especially obvious now with social media making so much visible. We say things on Facebook we would never say in person. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth could well say let no corrupt communication proceed on your Twitter feed or in your Facebook posts.

Corrupt communication is anything that defiles or hurts. Communication can corrupt friendships and churches and homes and anywhere else we are involved with others and with a media like Facebook it spreads faster than ever.

Instead our communication, be it verbal, written or electronic should be used for edification, for support, for building up. Our communication should minister grace to those who hear it.

Think of it. What kind of mark could I make on this world if my communication was never corrupt, but always marked by grace and edification. What a force for good and for God I could be.

Work so we can give

Lest him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. – Ephesians 4.28

Why do you and I work? Why do we punch that clock or log in on the computer or get just get to work on our own? Why do we commute back and forth on the roads? Why do we travel or set up home offices or go to the classroom or the shop or whatever it is our job to do?

To put food on the table
To pay our bills
To provide for our families
To buy more stuff
To travel and holiday

Sure, all that and more.

But I’ll bet there is something we don’t normally thing about.

How about the notion that we work and earn wages so that we can give to those in need?

What? Is that really in there? I’m supposed to go to my job and earn my pay in order to give it away to somebody else? Really?

Well, that’s what is says here in black and white. It requires a whole rethink on jobs and possessions and priorities, doesn’t it? There is nothing wrong with having stuff. There is nothing wrong with having nice stuff.

The problem is when we never consider that part of why we earn money is to give it away to those who need it. God’s people are His way to take care of people. God rarely just gives people money or sets groceries in their house. He wants us to do it and He gives us work to pay for it.

I think we all need to examine our financial priorities.

Don't go to bed angry

Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. – Ephesians 4.26-27

The Bible is the word of God – full stop. Every word is a gift from Him and our Bible would be incomplete without even a jot or a tittle.

But some words really stick out and make so much sense that that suit anyone, anytime, anywhere, in any circumstance.

This is one of those places where, if the verse is applied anywhere by anyone under any circumstance things would be better. This advice is not only good for believers – it would help no matter what.

When you are anger don’t let your anger become sin. Do not let the sun set on your anger. Nip it in the bud. Do it now.

One of the things Mary and I agreed at the start of our marriage was that we would apply this verse to our lives. Like anyone else we get angry and we have our rows, but thanks to God’s grace I don’t think we have ever gone to bed angry with each other.

Think about how different things would be if we refused to go to bed angry. Even if the person we are angry at doesn’t change we can choose to drop our anger and move on. It is up to us, by the grace of God, to choose not to go to bed angry and then follow through.

Put on the new man

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. – Ephesians 4.24

So once we finally decide to get rid of the old man’s rotting carcass we have something else to replace him with.

Put on the new man.

Now this new man is a totally new man like nothing else we have ever experienced before. Whereas the old man was captive to sin and corruption and defiles and all that kind of bad stuff the new man is created

In righteousness
In holiness

This new man sets us apart from what we used to be. The old man is dead and we are raised to walk in newness of life. All things are passed away and all things have become new. Instead of walking in the flesh like the world does we put on the new man and people see God’s holiness and righteousness in us.

When that happens we are going to stand out from the world. It’s this new man, created in Christ Jesus that draws people to Him.

We can carry around that old, dead, rotting carcass and act according to its old whites and lusts and desires, or we can clothe ourselves in the new man with his holiness and righteousness. Which are we going to do today?

The renewing of your mind

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; - Ephesians 4.20-23

Take off your old corrupt lifestyle dependent on your own lusts and let your mind be renewed.

Our old lifestyle was built on the old man, the person we were before Jesus saved us. He was a child of the world trapped in the world and behaving according to the course of this world blinded by our flesh and by sin.

The Bible says a lot about this renewing of the mind because the mind is where the battle really takes place. Someone has written of the fact there is a battle going on for our minds. Our flesh calls out and the Spirit calls out and our mind is where we decide that to do about it.

The Bible has plenty of answers.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
Whatever is pure and lovely and honest…think on these things
Set you affections on things above
Look not on the temporary things you can see, but the eternal things that you can’t
Bring every thought into captivity

It is up to us, with the help of and by the grace of God.

Let our minds be renewed to follow Christ.

Given over

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. – Ephesians 4.17-19

We live in a terrible dark and broken world. Of course the world has always been dark and terrible, its just that now we have access to know what is going on everywhere. We see it within minutes so it is mush more aware to us. It is hard to keep the evil of this world hidden. It is obvious that the world has given itself over to lasciviousness and uncleanness and greediness.

There are a couple of points to be made here. One is that we are not to live that way. Don’t walk that way. It does not suit us. It does not represent Christ. Seeking after the world and its ways is not for us.

But there’s  something else we need to remember. The world acts the way it does is because it is the world. It is given over to wickedness. We can’t expect to reform without Christ. Too often we think if we can just get people to change their ways or get laws passed to conform to our way somehow things are going to be better.

Nothing is going to change a given over world but new life in Christ. Once given over it’s not going to come back. Reformation is not enough – what we need is repentance  and reconciliation and rebirth and restoration.

So we can only expect a lost world to act lost – and focus on bringing them to Christ

Vanity

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. – Ephesians 4.17-19

Don’t walk, Paul writes, like the rest of the world walks. Don’t be caught up in the vanity and futility of your minds. Stop chasing after the vain and empty the things the world goes after. They aren’t going to do you any good.

Solomon learned that lesson a long, long time ago. We tried to find the meaning of life and find satisfaction is money and possessions and power and popularity and anything else you can imagine, but at the end of the day all he found was more emptiness. We finally said ‘fear God and keep His commandment’ was the only way to find meaning.

The world can’t help but live in the vanity of their minds, they don’t know that the peace they seek comes only from fearing God and keeping His commandments.

But we should know how vain and futile it is to live that way. We should know what a waste it is. We really should know better.

And yet we still can let vain and futile thoughts control us. For some reason we keep thinking we are going to find satisfaction there.

Its not going to happen. There is no hope there. Emptiness is only going to bring emptiness.

Let us stop going after all those worthless things. We have more important things things to do. We have a heavenly and eternal purpose to achieve. There is no need for us to act like the world.

Fitly joined

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 
- Ephesians 4.14-16

Every time I read this passage; I think of a set of lego. This ubiquitous toy has been around for ages. We’ve all scene great constructions and even works of art made of lego. We’ve seen animated recreations of sports events and every monument in the world. They require great skill and a great variety of lego. Lego are red and while and green and blue and I am sure may other colours. There are single pieces and double pieces and quadruple pieces and more. They even come in different shapes and sizes, but somehow they all work together to create the things we see.

This is the image of the church I see here. The members in the church come in all shapes and sizes. Red, yellow, black, and white and every shade in between. The church would not be what it is without that great diversity of sizes and shapes and colours and functions.

Paul says here that we are ‘fitly joined’ or ‘closely knit.’ Every block plays its part and the body would not be same if any part were missing. We don’t have to be alike or do what others are like or what they do.

Some of us are going to use traditional music. Some of us are going to use more contemporary music. Some are going to use one translation and some another. Some are going to worship in a more formal reserved manner and some in a less formal way. We are going to differ in our views of the non essentials.

We are all going to have different tasks. Some will preach and teach and some will work with kids and some will work in the creche and some will work with music and some will do the IT work.

Every block is different, but every block is fitly joined together to do build the church.

Thank God for that wonderful diversity.

That we might grow up

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
- Ephesians 4.14-16

Growing in Christ takes work every day. Reading your Bible and learning to pray Keep God’s commandments, seek help divine.

But grow we must. We must grow in all things as we seek to be more like Jesus. We must grow in peace and holiness and love and compassion and like-mindedness and righteousness and Christ-likeness.

There is a lot here on growth. It must be really important because Paul addresses it so often. The context here is the local church. I think we see that as we all grow together the church also grows. If we are working together as each one grows it helps the others to grow and it helps the body itself to grow in all things to follow and obey the head and be conformed to His will.

It doesn’t happen all by itself. A child left all alone is never going to develop and grow. Childhood is kind of fun and the more years go by we might look back and relish it.

But grow we must. Our purpose to to serve others and to serve God and if we are children we really can’t do that well. If we are immature we are easily hurt and offended and never really know how to handle life situations.

Our growing does not stop. It takes work. But the rewards are worth it.

Speak the truth in love

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. – Ephesians 4. 14-16

There is not doubt that God wants us to always be truth tellers. He hates lying and He doesn’t make any exceptions. There are plenty of passages to prove that.

If we are not careful though our desire to ‘speak the truth’ can be motivated wrongly and can do more harm that good. Words don’t have to be lies to hurt. The truth can hurt and improperly presented will hurt much worse that lies and innuendoes.

When I speak too often it may be based my need to prove myself right or make a point or any number of things, even if it is the truth.

That should come as no surprise – we are to strive to do everything we do in love. It does no good to not be truthful with each other. It does no good to use lies and mistruths to try and make others feel better about themselves. We are only marketing things worse.

We have to preach the truth. We have to speak the truth to each other. We have to speak the truth about sin and unrighteousness. We have to speak the truth to the world around us.

But we have to do it all in love. The love of Christ must compel us. 

No longer children

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. – Ephesians 4.14-16

Even at my age I still love kids. Mary and I have been working with kids for more than 40 years together. I love their innocence and their outlook on life and their ability to be amazed at even the smallest thing. I love seeing them on walks hopping and skipping and stopping for a new investigation. I love teaching them and watching them learn.

We often tease our kids and grandkids about growing up too fast and about how we want them to stop growing, but imagine what it would be like if they did stop growing. It would be unmitigated tragedy. It happens sometimes. Some children do never mature and grow up. Nobody really wants that.

It’s the same for Christians. It a blessing to see people get saved and be overjoyed with the freshness of their salvation. It’s wonderful to see them learn and be excited about the basics that we have know for so long that maybe we’ve lost some of that excitement.

But young believers, just like young children must eventually grow up. Young believers can be unstable in their faith and easily tossed and turned about by the winds of doctrine.

That’s why we are told that we are to move on from the basics and move on to the deeper things. We must be well grounded. We must move on so that we can carry on serving Him and not be swayed.

Till we all come

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: - Ephesians 4.13

Ephesians talks about godly living a lot. We might wonder how long we are supposed to keep doing this. Do I ever get a break or do I ever get to retire and just take it easy?

Well, only if we think we can achieve certain goals in this life.

Perfect unity in the faith
The full knowledge of God
Perfection
Measure up to the fulness of Christ.

In others, there is no point where we can stop growing and maturing. We can always seek more unity and learn more about God and strive toward maturity and allow the fulness of Christ to dwell in us.

There is no retirement age for growing in Christ. The things we read about above are not going to happen here on earth, but that doesn’t or shouldn’t keep us from striving for and growing toward them. We keep on keeping on till the day our salvation and sanctification and holiness is made complete with Him in heaven.

Pastors and teachers

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: - Ephesians 4.11-12

I see a bit of talk today from Christians about how they do fine in their Christian lives without going to church and without submitting themselves to the leadership of pastors or elders. In fact many of them seem almost anti-pastor and about how they do more harm then good and how all you need is you and God to succeed in the Christian life.

Sadly, this teaching is not according to God’s plan. God does give the church leaders and teachers to help us on our way. They certainly have a purpose and that purpose is seen here. We have pastors and teachers to help the saints mature, to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry, and to build up the body of Christ.

Pastors and teachers are to be there to help people grow in their walk with the Lord. Everyone is responsible for their own growth through personal prayer and Bible study, but we come to church to be taught God’s word and instructed on growth.

Another reason is to give the saints the tools to do the work. Part of coming to church is that we are given what they need to leave and go out the rest of the week to their schools and workplaces and homes and neighbourhoods better prepared to reach our own mission fields with the gospel.

And then we see the responsibility to edify and build up the body of Christ. We all need that little push and that little ‘job well done’ and ‘keep up the good work’ and to help lift them out of discouragement and to lift the spirits.

Pastors and teachers and other leaders are mean to be a help and a blessing and provider and encourager. May we pastors seek that out and may we enjoy the blessing of having a pastor.

The measure of grace

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. – Ephesians 4.7

So just how much grace is available to us? Is it possible for us to go the pantry of grace of grace one day and find out the we are flat out of grace? It is a terrible thing when that happens in the kitchen, but can you imagine going to God for grace and find out that your grace supply has run out?

Well, that is something we need never worry about. It simple ‘ain’t gonna happen.’ Our grace supply is not based on us or what we deserve or anything like that.

The measure of God’s amazing grace in the measure of the gift of Christ. That measure is the immeasurable love of God that allowed Jesus to take our sins to the cross and pay the penalty for our sins. That’s a measure of grace that will never run out.

I don’t think I could say it any better than Annie Flint did in here classic hymn ‘He Giveth More Grace’

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase,

To added affliction He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men,

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

One God

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. – Ephesians 4.4-6

The greatest bond of all of course is that we all have God who is:

Over us all
Working through us all
In us all

You have to wonder how Christians can be so divided when we clearly have so much on common. All through our history we have fought each other beginning with the fight over the salvation of Gentiles. The early church got together and sorted that out and those who were in Biblical error were called out.

But our fights, despite the fact that we have the same God over us and working through us and in us all, are often over the most petty matters. Our pride causes us to refuse to even listen to their ideas or viewpoints, ignoring our unity in Christ because we feel that we have to be right.

I am of course not saying that we ignore sin or error or false teaching. We have to stand and deal with all of those destroyers of unity. What I am saying is that we ought to be looking for ways to unite because all true believers are the same side. We have the same Commander so we have a common goal and a common purpose as we unite to serve our common God. We may not, and will not, all do it exactly the same way but our goal is the – to draw people to Christ and to glorify God in all we say and do.

Our common God who is over and and working through us al and who is living in jus all to be our unifying factor as we move forward to win a world to Him.

One body, one Spirit...

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. – Ephesians 4.4-6

We are one body. We all have the same spirit. We all have the same hope. We have the same Lord. We have the same faith. We have the same baptism on the Holy Spirit.

Wouldn’t you think that would be enough to unify us? With all of those things in common why do we fight and squabble over the petty stuff?

Too often I fear we make the traditions of men more important that the doctrines of God. We get convinced that we are the only ones doing it right and that anyone who does it differently is wrong and my way is always best.

Paul didn’t feel that way. When other preachers were being critical of him he didn’t fight back. If they were preaching the gospel he rejoiced. When the disciples saw someone doing Christ’s work, but not exactly the sake way they wanted to make them stop, but Jesus said ‘he that is not against us is for us.’

Sure, we must call out error and never compromise on truth. We need to see what we have in common and work on that basis.

The bond of peace

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4.1-3

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The bond of peace explains how we are to strive together for unity. We strive for unity but we depend on the bond of peace that only Jesus can provide.

Jesus describes this bond of peace this way – ‘My peace I leave with you. I don’t leave and peace like the world gives you. Therefore don’t be troubled and don’t be afraid.’ We don’t have to depend on our own ability to make up a peace, we have a supernatural peace that will allow us, from our side, to live at peace with all men.’

This bond of peace with each other, I think, is precipitated on the basis that we all know inner peace in hearts. We can never and will never be at peace with others unless we have the peace of God reigning in our own hearts. We cannot be at peace with others unless we are at peace with ourselves.

This is the bond, this peace that the world never gave and the peace it cannot take away. Circumstances will change and trials will come and we will have our differences, but there is that supernatural peace that unites us.

All true believers are bound together by the peace of God – may we work together in that bond of peace.

Strive for peace

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4.1-3

A house divided against itself cannot stand. It is good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity. We are one body.

There are plenty of passages talking about the importance of unity. It only makes sense because in every aspect of life we are stronger together. One single stick is easily broken. Two sticks are harder to break. But a bundle of three sticks is strong and hard to destroy.

Why then does it seem like all we can do is split and divide. I have seen fellowship broken over clothing choices and facial hair and music and Bible translation and worship styles and all kinds of petty things. I have seen churches split over carpet choices and moving a piece of furniture and which entrance of a car park to close because traffic was using the church car park as a cut through. I’ve seen fights and arguments over not only predestination but what level of predestination and over what kind of lapsarian you are and over dichotomy and tracheotomy and over eschatology. Not that these theological issues are unimportant, but is there really the need to fight?

Unity is not easy, that’s why we are told that we need to work for it. We must constantly strive, not to be right or to tear down others or make everyone conform to us. We must strive to find ways to be at peace even with those who differ or disagree with us.

Strive for unity. Pursue peace with all men, with holiness. We can’t sacrifice holiness in pursuit of peace, but we can strive to achieve peace wherever possible.

Putting up with each other

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4.1-3

I am glad these verse fell where they did for me this year. Virtually every phrase is a reminder of things I need to work on to make 2020 a better year in my service for the Lord.

Meekness and lowliness are traits that we need to have in our lives, but the first test of them is a little harder. We are challenged to have long-suffering and forbearing each other in a spirit of love. In other words – we need to learn to put up with each other.

That sounds like a little thing, but it is a lot bigger ‘thing’ than we first consider. All of us can be difficult at times and we can all find that others can be difficult for us to deal with. Face it, we can all be jerks at times and jerks are never easy to deal with.

I am amazed that people are able to put up with me. I know I can be difficult to deal with and get along with. I don’t try to be that way but sometimes my flesh just wins out and I can like a real jerk.

It’s because of people like me that we have to be told to forebear and tolerate each other.

Think though what would happen in this world if we did not learn to bear with each other. How long would friendships last? How long would churches survive? How long would marriages last?

I think the key to putting up with each other, apart from the grace of God, is realising that at the same time I am told to put up with others is that they are told to put up with me. That doesn’t mean of course that we don’t correct them when they are wrong or tell them when they have offended us. It means that when we do that we do it with the goal of insuring that the relationship is not destroyed and understanding that maybe I am the one who needs to change.

Lowliness and meekness

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4.1-3

Lowliness of heart and meekness of spirit are two traits that fly totally in the face of that the world emulates. You rarely hear someone praised, even in Christian circles for being meek and lowly. Instead, even in the church, we tend to praise the big, bad tough guy who gets things done. Instead of defining strength and power in God’s terms we can get caught in the trap of defining men as the world does and the meek, quiet, humble, caring, compassionate man can be seen as a sissy or a wimp.

Sure, I am not denying the importance of a man being spiritually tough and willing to stand and fight for his faith. We are called soldiers and runners and boxers, after all. Men need to act like men – there is no doubt.

But there is an aspect of spiritual manliness that we can forget. As we look through the Bible we see the words meek and lowly and full of compassion and caring and nurturing and quiet all applied to men of God. We love the phrase ‘quit ye like men’ forgetting that in the same context are the words ‘do everything in love.’

I have known a very few meek and lowly men of God. They  are such a blessing when you come across them. Their sweet spirit draws people to them. They are as tough as nails when it comes to standing for the faith, but when it comes to dealing with people they are deal with with a lovely gentleness.

Meek and lowly folk don’t see a need to elevate themselves. Meek and lowly folk don’t worry a lot about how important they look or if they get the credit. They only care about that marvelous spirit of meekness. If we all took that to heart it would solve all kinds of issues in the church.

Moses was meek. Jesus was meek. Oughtn’t I do the same?

Walk worthy

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4.1-3

Paul writes a lot about walk. Walk as light and walk in love and walk in the Spirit and walk in kindness and all of those sorts of important vital truths. There are many, many more, but I think the one that is the best summary of all those truths is the one found here – walk worthy of the task that God has called you to do.

This is the perfect all around statement about how we are to live in this present age, but at the same time it is deeply profound and challenging. Do my words and life and conduct and attitude all reflect the worthiness of my calling in Christ?

Let’s look at this from another perspective. What was my life worth to God? Does my walk reflect that I am one worth of Christ’s great sacrifice on the cross. Despite my sin He found me worthy – do I then walk worthy of what He has done for me?

In this new year I need a new commitment and a new determination by the grace of God to walk in such a way that is worthy of the price Jesus paid for me when He died on the cross. I want people to see Christ in me as I walk a walk and live a life that is worthy of Him.

To Him be glory in the church

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3.20-21

To God be glory in the church, through Jesus Christ, forever and ever.

It is clear that Paul saw the importance of the church, the body of Christ, the universal body of all believers of all time. The church is how He functions today and it is the church whose purpose it is to glorify God.

We can’t forget though that the church assembles in local groups to do its work. The church is not millions of believers wandering about working on their own to do God’s work. After all, Paul wrote these letters to local churches telling them how to function and how to do His work. God planned for the church to meet in local assemblies and for us to not forsake regular assembling so that we can carry on His work.

Yes, the entire body of Christ must give glory to God in every age and place, but in order to do that our local churches must also bring glory to God through our witness and our testimony and our actions before our communities.

As pastor of a small local church tucked away in this little town in Ireland I need to strive to make sure that all we do is not to make a name for me or our church or anything else. Our purpose is to bring glory to our God in our small town, our country, and in the world at large.

Our church is to be a light to the community trapped in darkness. We may be the only picture of Christ that they ever see. We have our generation to whom we must show the glory of God.

I can't even imagine

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3.20-21

To follow up on yesterdays post God gives us the great encouragement on how to be filled with the fullness of His glory and let that been seen in our lives.

What trials or tests or chances or opportunities do we see for the year again? What can we do about them?

But wait, that is not the question we should be asking. The question is ‘what can God do about them?’ How much can God do in 2020?

I just started my 2020 journal. Both 2019 and 2020 lay here beside me. 2019 is full, used up, looking worn and tattered. 2020 is brand new with 366 clean days ahead. God is done with what He is going to do with 2019, but 2020 is clear and ready and full of potential.

So, what can God do?

Literally exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think.

Read that again.

Exceedingly

Abundantly

More than I can ask for

More than I can think about

God is able to do far more than I can even think or imagine in the year to come! He has given us a really good 2019 – but what does He have in store? More than I can imagine.

Now that is not to say that 2020 is going to go the way I want it to. It doesn’t mean the year is going to be full of great victories and successes. But it does mean that God can do more than I can imagine even in the times that I can’t see what He is doing!

So we go! Let’s see what God has in store for us and not be limited by what we can imagine!  

Filled

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, 
that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. – Ephesians 3.16-19

This is truly the perfect verse to start the year 2020. That date still sounds like it comes from a futuristic sci-fi novel, doesn’t it?

Anyway, we talk a lot about New Year resolutions. We all start with lofty goals like to eat better and lose weight and exercise more and read our Bibles through in the year and be better spouses and parents and grandparents. Churches set their goals for the new year. It is a time of looking forward to see how we can make the next 366 days better than the last.

That’s not a bad thing. I this verse though I find a goal that I would like to set for me and my family and my church – that we might all the filled with all the fullness of God.

As the year begins my needed to empty myself of selfishness and greed and worldly ambition. I need to empty myself of my own worldly lusts and desires. I need to make sure that I am vessel ready for the Spirit to fill me and allow me to be filled, instead of with Roger, but to be filled with all of the fullness of God. Am I ready and am I willing to allow God to take charge of my life in 2020 and to do the things He wants me to do.

How do I do this? I think it starts with David’s prayer ‘search me O God and know my heart today, try me and see if there be any wrecked away in me.’ We might also ‘may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight our Lord.’

Until we throw out the junk there will be no room for God to fill us with all His fullness.