Is the following question a fair question?
If you believe in something (a cause, a principle, a law of physics), but that belief doesn’t change your behavior or thinking, do you really believe in that something?
To add a little insight to that question: We show our belief in buoyancy by getting in a boat. We show our belief in aerodynamics by flying in a plane. Some people show their belief in the strength of nylon fabric by skydiving.
Now to bring it to a personal level: We show our belief in the gospel message, by ________. How would you complete that sentence? What behavior do you have in your life that displays your belief in the gospel message?
1. Digging In (God, Show Me!)
Much of the New Testament is devoted to helping us complete that sentence—teaching us how our life behavior is to line up with the gospel message. Ephesians 5:1-10 is one of the most densely packed passages that teaches us about life behavior. As you read the passage below, draw an emoji that properly expresses how each instruction hits you. Some examples: Smiley (easy to obey); Frowny (hard to obey); Wow (makes you go “wow!”). You may want to print out the passage and draw the emoji’s or paste it into an e-doc and use actual emoji’s.
Ephesians 5:1-10 (ESV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
5 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.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
2. Taking It Inward (God, Teach Me!)
Do you get a sense of the kind of lifestyle that God wants you to live? In fact, all of these instructions can be summed up in two main instructions in this passage. Look for the word “walk” in the passage and write these instructions in the space below or in an e-doc.
1.
2.
3. Putting Into Practice (God, Change Me!)
Back to the opening question. Your answer might go something like this:
We show our belief in the gospel message, by:
1. Walking in love.
2. By walking as children of light.
But did you notice the degree to which we’re to walk in love? Just as Christ loved us! And did you notice how we’re to walk as children of light? By finding out what pleases the Lord. So, try these things:
- Within the next 60 minutes try to show love to someone as Christ loved you. If you’re about to go to bed, shoot for the first 60 minutes tomorrow morning. Write down two or three ideas.
- Within the next 24 hours do something that you know pleases God.