Ephesians 5.1-14 (2)
Pray Psalm 144.3, 4, 15.
LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow…
Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!
Sing Psalm 144.3, 4, 15.
(Tidings: O Zion, Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
LORD, who are we, that You regard and love us?
Why should You care for our poor sinful plight?
We are but breath; You dwell on high above us;
our days like shadows pass before Your light.
Refrain v. 15
Happy are they on whom blessings fall!
Blessed are the people who on Jesus’ mercy call!
Read Ephesians 5.1-14; meditate on verses 3-5.
Meditate on the Kingdom of God as your “inheritance”. What does that look like?
Preparation
1. What should we do instead of falling into sin?
2. How should we regard the Kingdom of Christ and God?
Meditation
Whenever we are tempted to sin, we find ourselves at a place of wanting to be disloyal to God (Thielicke). At such times we must choose: Either we will give in to temptation and fall through it into sin; or we will resist the devil and grow through temptation into a higher level of sanctification. Either we will forfeit our Kingdom credentials or polish them to a brighter sheen.
The key to succeeding in the face of temptation is to give thanks (v. 4). Giving thanks turns our focus upward, to Jesus, where we see His face in radiant glory and are reminded of His wounds, incurred to pay for and remove our sin. Give thanks for His shepherding oversight, for His indwelling Spirit, and for the strength to resist the devil.
We are called by God to a life of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 2.12; Rom. 14.17) and to follow our Lord along the Jesus path into greater degrees of transformation into His likeness (1 Jn. 2.1-6; 2 Cor. 3.12-18). It’s when we refuse to give thanks and to remember our heritage that we fall into sin.
Continuously falling into sin—don’t fail to see that condemnation of the “little sin” of covetousness in this list—can disqualify a person from citizenship in the Kingdom of God. Kingdom people live by Kingdom values. As a result, their Kingdom credentials are impeccable, that is, literally, without sin. Christ has borne our sin away and we are daily being renewed in Him, setting our focus on Him, and walking with Him to be more like Him, giving thanks in all things as we go.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.16
“The key to succeeding in the face of temptation,” and to appreciate our inheritance to the full, “is to give thanks.” Another key is to daily count the cost of our dedication to Christ and plead for the strength given gladly by the Holy Spirit, to follow through on our end of God’s covenant.
When the Book of the Law was found in the house of the LORD (2 Kgs. 22.8), and read by King Josiah, a renewal of heart and spirit was led by him, for God’s people.
“The king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD. Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORDand to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant” (2 Kgs. 23.2, 3).
Solomon warned:
“An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning, will not be blessed at the end” (Prov. 20.21).
Too many people jump into the goodness of salvation without counting the cost; not understanding exactly what they are signing up for. A free ticket to heaven at the end of life sounds altogether promising; but there are strings attached. Jesus said: “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it…” (Lk. 14.27, 28).
Paul’s list of coarse behaviors ends with this statement: These folks have no “inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph. 5.5).
James suggests this course of action: “Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (Jms. 4.7, 8).
All these words from Josiah, Paul, Solomon, Jesus, and James are not meant as evangelistic tools.
These are words directed straight at God’s chosen people.
We are the ones who must take our inheritance seriously. It’s not some last will and testament, received quickly, then put away in a drawer for another day. No. The Word of God, the commandments of God, the guidance from the Holy Spirit—all the Words: “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live…” (Deut. 32.47 NIV). They are what we do. It is our one business.
“We are called by God to a life of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
“Be imitators of God…and walk in love…for a sweet-smelling aroma” (Eph. 5.1, 2).
This, then—counted, appreciated, and lived out—will be our Kingdom Credentials.
Reflection
1. How would you explain what our inheritance is to a new believer?
2. How would you explain what it means to take that inheritance seriously?
3. Whom will you encourage today in what they are doing, what their business is, for the Lord?
Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of. But these things are so far from being profitable, that they pollute and poison the hearers. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ephesians 5.3-14
Pray Psalm 144.5-15.
From what do you need God’s deliverance today? Where will you require His strength? Whom will you teach to follow Jesus in all things? Review these questions in prayer and offer them to the Lord for guidance, grace, and strength.
Sing Psalm 144.5-15.
(Tidings: O Zion, Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
Bow down the heav’ns, come down and touch the mountains.
Flash forth like lightning; scatter all Your foes!
Send out Your arrows, send them out to rout them;
stretch forth Your hand and save us from all woes!
Refrain
From every foe and every lie deliver!
Then will we sing new songs unto Your praise.
Rescue Your servants, who are Yours forever;
grant us deliv’rance by Your hand always.
Refrain
Bless, LORD, our children, strengthen them forever.
All our provision, day by day supply.
Bless our endeavors; from distress deliver.
Keep us from harm and all distressing cries.
Refrain
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we are looking at the place of God’s Law in the life of the Church. Our Read Moore podcast continues working through The Gospel of the Kingdom, looking for the true Gospel of the Lord. The Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing the life of Brigit, a contemporary of Brendan. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
