Eight Keys to Godly Living

Read Ephesians 5:8-21

Paul has laid out the basics for the converted Ephesians on how a Christian should live and behave. In today's reading, he reminds them again who they are now in Christ. He seems to be really trying to get this concept of who they are now across to them. It must have been hard for the Ephesian converts because their former lifestyles were so completely and utterly dark. Yet, Paul repeatedly assures them that's not who they are now.

Sometimes we must be reminded that what we were is not who we are now. Some new Christians are so hard on themselves that they find forgiveness for their former lifestyles hard to accept. They have a hard time forgiving themselves, so they reason Jesus must also have a hard time doing it. We come out of the darkness, yet it somehow still clings to us in the form of regrets. Paul's words in today's verses remind us and encourage us to walk in the light of Christ and in reverence of Him.

Paul begins by reminding us that we "were once darkness." Notice that he doesn't say, "we once walked in darkness." He says we were darkness. ​Think about that for a minute. We didn't walk or live in darkness - we were darkness. This is why it is so easy for Christians to fall into sin. Our sinful nature (that darkness) will never leave us. Yes, we've been forgiven of our sins because of Jesus, but the ability to sin and the desire to sin will always be there. This is why it is so crucial for Christians to be in the Word daily. When we abide in the Word, Jesus abides in us because He is the Word! 

But notice what Paul says now of those who have Jesus - "You are light in the Lord." He doesn't say, "you are light," for that would be impossible in and of ourselves. No. He says, "You are light in the Lord." We are cleansed, forgiven, and filled with God's Shekinah glory - His Holy Spirit. We are light only because of Jesus. Our bodies house His Holy Spirit. Therefore we must do everything in our power to walk and live for His glory and not cause the Holy Spirit grief (Ephesians 4:30).

So how do we do that? How do we walk in the light? What are the eight keys to Godly living? Paul tells us:

Find out what is acceptable to the Lord (Ephesians 5:10). You know when you have done something wrong or are entertaining the idea of doing something that goes against God's Word, for the Holy Spirit that lives within you will convict you of your sin. When we listen to the Holy Spirit and stay faithful to the Word of God, our walk with the Lord will be strong and steady. The fruit of the Spirit is found in goodness, righteousness and truth. When we keep those three attributes central in our lives, we will know what is acceptable to God.

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). When I was a teenager, I joined a church after accepting Jesus as my Saviour. I hoped the youth group I was involved in would teach me how to live as a Christian. I did not grow up in a Christian home, so I had no idea how to live as one. Unfortunately, I saw no difference in the lifestyles and choices of these "Christian" kids than my unsaved friends. These Christians (and their youth leaders) continued to drink until they were drunk, they had premarital sex (one even got pregnant), they took drugs, smoked, swore like sailors, and basically acted no different than my unsaved friends. So because the youth leaders at that church encouraged this type of behaviour, with the line "everything is acceptable in Christ," it would be many, many years before I would be mature enough in my faith to realize they were not honouring God at all and that most of them never knew God in the first place. They were still living in darkness. Jesus was not abiding in them (or me) because He was not the Lord of our lives. When we fellowship with "the unfruitful works of darkness," there is no light in our lives. We have effectively doused the flame of the Holy Spirit. Paul warned the Ephesians (and us) not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). There has to come a time when we choose to continue to live in darkness or live in the light of the Lord. It is one thing to reach out to those still trapped in darkness to bring them to Jesus, it is another thing entirely to join them in the darkness to try to reach them. Trust me. As someone who lived it, It doesn't work.
 
Expose the darkness. If someone had told me as a young teenage Christian, "You should not be swearing or drinking now that you are a Christian and here is why..." I might have learned to walk in the light a lot sooner. But no one pointed out my sins to me, except one man, who cringed every time I took God's name in vain. He called me out on it and explained very clearly why it was wrong, and I had a lightbulb moment from that day forward. It kept me from repeatedly using God's name as a swear word. My friend exposed the darkness in me and guided me toward the light of Christ and how to abide in Jesus. Something no other church leader or Christian had ever done for me. I am so incredibly thankful God cared enough about me to bring someone into my life who honestly and lovingly showed me how I was sinning and why. So if you see a fellow Christian walking in darkness, don't be afraid to say something to them. You may be bringing them to the light of the Lord for the very first time.

Redeem your time. The NKJV says to walk "circumspectly." The Word in Greek is akribōs and means to walk "exactly, accurately, or diligently." In other words, mind how you live, not as a fool, but with wisdom, because the days are evil. Examine your life - how are you spending your days?

Understand the Lord's will. The best way to understand God's will is by reading His Word. It is our handbook for life. Use it.

Be filled with the Spirit. How? Paul tells us: by "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19-21). Does this mean we are to go around quoting Scripture at each other and singing all the time? Of course not! Remember who Paul is talking to - former idol worshippers whose deeds were very dark. He is contrasting their former lifestyle to their new one. And the same applies to us. When we lift each other up, we are edifying the entire church. Come out of the darkness and rejoice in the light of Jesus!

Give thanks for all things. Ephesians 5:20 reminds us to be thankful for all things to God the Father in the name of Jesus. The Greek Word used for "all things" is pas, and it actually means "every," so we are to be thankful for everything that comes our way. Yep, even the bad stuff. Why? Because none of it gets past God. And while we may think what's happening to us is the worst possible thing that could ever happen to us, we must trust that God has a plan.

I've had skin cancer, a 22-pound tumour in my stomach, an emergency surgery that resulted in the permanent loss of my singing voice (aka my career), a fall down a flight of stairs that left me partially disabled, and to top it all off I was diagnosed with an incurable disease that will eventually kill me. Did God know all this was going to happen to me? Yes. Should I be thankful? Yes! Why? Because He is working all these things into my life for my good. For example, I would never have taken up writing as a career choice or even as a ministry if I was still singing. But being forced to sit all day because I can't get up and move keeps me in my Bible, studying it and sharing what I learn with you. And so I am very thankful to have the time to do that.

Submit to one another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:21). What does that mean? Does it mean we submit to each other because we're afraid of what God will do if we don't? Not at all! In fact, the word fear in Hebrew is yirah and means "awe or reverence." The "fear of the Lord" means to have an overwhelming sense of His glory or worth. Much like you would experience if you were seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. That "wow" feeling. Submitting to one another in the "fear of God" means we submit out of reverence for God and His holiness. This kind of submission means we do not use our wealth, gender or position to "bulldoze" someone into doing what we want. Instead, this kind of submission is done with respect and love for each other and our unity in Christ out of reverence for God.

We all were once darkness, but now we are light in Jesus Christ. Meditate on that and rejoice, for you are part of the body of Christ.