Still Walking……

I’m still reading in Ephesians with today being the first part of chapter 5.  Paul, who wrote Ephesians, is still continuing his discussion of how followers of Jesus should walk, or really, live.  He gives us three ways to walk.  Here is the scripture passage:

Walk in Love

5 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ² And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.  ³ But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴ neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵ For this you know,^[a] that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any 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 be partakers with them.

Walk in Light

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the Spirit^[b] is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴ Therefore He says:“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

Walk in Wisdom

¹⁵ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

We are given three different ways to walk.  First we are to walk in love, as Christ walked in love.  Now, Paul is not asking us to fill Jesus’ sandals, nor is he asking us to be perfect representations of Christ.  Rather, Paul is asking us to be imitators of God.  Most of us have seen imitators or impersonators.  Some of them are very good but they are not the real thing.  There is a definite difference.  We are to be imitators of God and walk in love, a sacrificial love.  Next, we are told to walk in light.  We are to be reflectors of Jesus Christ.  Notice that we are “light in the Lord” and “children of light”.  We are not “the light” itself.  Jesus is the light.  However, we are reflectors of that light as we walk, showing truth and righteousness to others and exposing darkness and the evil in the darkness.  Finally, we are to walk “circumspectly” or carefully.  We should live in this world in a careful, not reckless manner, being wise and making use of our time.

So, how’s your walk?  Sometimes we limp from time to time but Paul gives us an example here to walk in love, light and wisdom.

Have a great day!