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Good morning my ‘Walking with Jesus’ friends;
Once again I am writing you from Jordan. My conference ministry was scheduled to end last night, and today I’m scheduled to visit Petra in the south of the country, perhaps I’ll have some pictures or stories later in the week. I fly out tonight… it’s been a wonderful time of seeing this place which is so different from where you and I live, yet people are the same everywhere, aren’t they? And God, of course, loves the people living here, as much as He loves you and me, right? Do you really believe that?
I’ve been awakened each morning by the Muslim call to prayer. It’s still dark outside, but this voice calls the people of this community to begin their day seeking God in prayer! When Dawn and I lived in Haiti, a Christian church nearby did the same, only they used the clanging of a large church bell, and many people came in the dark of early morning to pray together, before they returned home to begin their work day. And it stirs me to ask about how you and I begin our days in America, in 2019? Is meeting with God the first thing on your morning agenda? Guess what? It’s the first thing on God’s agenda for you and me each morning! Nothing is more important for us, from God’s perspective, as we rise from our sleep and launch into a new day. Nothing…
We’re reading together in Ephesians chapter 5 today. Paul writes from a Roman prison to his friends, the Christians, in the large city of Ephesus…“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” So what would that look like…if you and I lived lives which imitated God, by living like Jesus lived His life, especially in how He loved and served people, and gave His life for them?
I’m writing from a sanatorium campus. A hospital for people, in this case especially Bedouin people, who have TB. It was begun 60 years ago by two single women. An American doctor who herself came down with TB when serving here, in the middle east, in the early 1950’s, and an Australian, single mid-wife who came here to help start a clinic. These two remarkable women were followers of Jesus Christ, and they felt especially called by God to love and serve the Bedouins. These are people who live in tents in the desert and roam with their flocks, much like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Jacob’s sons in ancient times…in this same region of the world, 4000 years ago!
The Bedouins often perceive themselves to be discarded and disregarded by society, so it was amazing to them, that two single medical women from countries far away, would come and live here, to love and serve them IN THE NAME of Jesus! When asked why…these two women responded something like, “because that’s what Jesus would do if He was here today, and He has asked us to be His hands, His smile, offering His love and help to you…”. The little clinic developed into a hospital.
The tiny village which was here is a large city now, with thousands of refugees who’ve come from Syria and other neighboring countries in recent years. Staff here are from many nations, all followers of Jesus, coming to continue the legacy of serving people here with the love and help of Jesus! It’s been my privilege to bring God’s Word to these folks this week, in a spiritual retreat intended for their refreshment and encouragement. God has met with us repeatedly this week!!
Now, I’ve told you this so I could ask you a question: do you see how this place, and the people who’ve come from around the world to live and serve the Bedouins here, are living out Ephesians 5:1,2…daily? And now let’s look at ourselves and each other. . .how are we living these two verses for the people in our towns, our neighborhoods…all across America and in some foreign countries?
This my dear friends is what “walking with Jesus” means… living each day imitating Jesus! Living as Jesus would live, if He were in your shoes, in your home, in your car, living your life! So obviously, the better we know Jesus the better we will live like He would, if He was here today in your situation and mine!
So stop right here a moment… think about Jesus and what you know of how He loved people, helped people, served people, pointed people to God. Think about how Jesus did that non-stop, everywhere His path took Him each day, no matter who the people were or what their need was! Now that, my friends, is our privilege as you and I live out Ephesians 5:1,2 today, and every day the rest of our lives!!
Notice Paul then helps us understand beginning in 5:3 that there are some behaviors and attitudes which are quite prevalent in our world, but were not a part of how Jesus lived, and should not be part of our lives, if we are going to live like Jesus. “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are not proper for God’s holy people.” So may I ask a question? What isn’t crystal clear about those words and what they mean for you and me today, if we claim to be Christians, followers of Jesus?
Do you see Paul continues: “Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” (5:4) Have you noticed in your life journey that each of these things Paul mentions in this verse are contagious? People whose language is filled with any of these, usually are surrounded by similar people who do the same, including THANKSGIVING or GRATITUDE! That is very contagious too, right? Several of you dear friends reading this or hearing my voice are wonderful examples of gratitude contagiousness! Thank you!!
But Paul asks us to look closely at ourselves, listen to our own voices when we speak. . .anything that the Holy Spirit shows us should NOT be part of our vocabulary if we are imitators of Jesus? Remember what James wrote about the tongue and how, like a spring of water, it cannot pour out fresh and rancid water both. What comes out of our mouths is a product of what’s deep in our hearts, just like a deep well of water. So what does your mouth tell you about your heart?
Now let’s be careful with verse 5-7. This does not mean that a person, who ever stumbles, in any of these areas, is rejected by God, and will NEVER see heaven or have any spiritual inheritance. Oh no! What it does mean, is that a person whose lifestyle includes these attributes, these behaviors, while at the same time claiming to be a Christian, is showing to the world there is a problem, a conflict of interests in their life. No one can consistently live two opposite lifestyles. We will automatically gravitate toward the person we really are down deep inside and we will wean ourselves from those attitudes and behaviors which deny who we really are. We need to link this with what we saw yesterday about giving the devil a foothold and grieving the Holy Spirit in 4:27 & 4:30.
My friends, how often are you surprised when you find out a person claims to be a Christian, and yet by their language or behavior you assumed they were far from God, perhaps had never entered a church? This is so important that many parts of the Bible call us to consider the reputation we have built by how we live and talk. Consider these. . .
1. James 3:1-12
2. Proverbs 4:23,24 / 6:2,3 / 10:19,20 / 11:12,13 etc.
May I suggest something for all of us, since this is such a big problem. Go through the book of Proverbs, and highlight every verse there which speaks of wrong use of the tongue or mouth…and I believe you’ll end up with a remarkable instruction booklet on how to control what comes out of your mouth so it does not bring dishonor to Jesus!
Let’s close today with Ephesians 5:8-10 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light…and find out what pleases the Lord. have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
Now link that with 1 John 1:5,6,7 “God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him (God), yet we walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ purifies us from all our sin.”
I invite you to re-read those verses and invite the Holy Spirit to speak into your heart about how they apply to you, your family, your closest friends.
Finally, this: Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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