This post is actually taken from a bible study that I have at my school. It was so powerful to me that I feel like I should share it. And this may seem a little long, but I challenge you to read through all of it with an open mind.
The study this week was Ephesians 5:1-10. The first two verses go, "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." The first two verse lay out how we should live our lives. We should live our lives as Jesus lived his, therefore, we a doing what Christ did when He was on earth. As the passage goes on, we get a little deeper into what it means to be a imitator of God.
Verses 3-7 goes, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper to God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person --- such a man is an idolater--- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them."
Now as we read this, it is very easy to see a long list of rules and things we shouldn't do, and it is easy to think that you won't be able to live up to all of what is wanted from you. Well guess what, you can never live up to the expectations God has set, that is why Jesus was sent to earth. He was the only one who could be perfect. He was the perfect, blameless lamb who died for us, and if we believe in what Jesus did for us, the we will live in eternity with God. This doesn't mean that we will be perfect but it does mean that you have God's unending love, and there is nothing that can separate you from it. Now this could mean that you could do whatever you want once you believe, but I loved what one person said in my bible study. She said that every time we sin, we give Jesus another burden to carry to the cross. I don't know about you, but I don't want to place more sins of that cross I they could be avoided. Another reason to grow closer to God once you believe is that the closer you grow to God, the closer you grow towards joy. God is the only source for pure joy that you can't find in this world. The more you know about God and who He is, the more joy you can find. And when you grow closer to God, these verses in Ephesians don't seem as impossible. Slowly you will be able to understand what each of these verses are saying, and you can slowly overcome what these verses say what not to do. Sure it takes time, but the end results are worth it.
Verses 8-10 says, "For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light. (For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." When we accept Jesus, we no longer walk in the darkness, but we walk in the light of the Lord. When you grow closer to the Lord, you find out what is pleasing to Him, and he will start to reveal what His plan is for you. So I challenge you to spend some one-on-one time with God so you may grow closer to Him, and so that you can find out what pleases Him. This requires reading your bible on you own, prayer, fellowship with other believers, and just listing for God's voice. We can ask God to show Himself to us, but if you don't stop to listen to what God has to say, then how can we know what God wants for us, and what pleases Him. This doesn't have to become a everyday habit, but I do want you to try it and for you to see what can come out of it.
This is an visual representation of how when you grow closer to God you grow closer to joy. Because this triangles has two equal sides, the closer you draw to God; the closer joy draws to God to keep the sides equal, so the closer you draw to joy.
The study this week was Ephesians 5:1-10. The first two verses go, "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." The first two verse lay out how we should live our lives. We should live our lives as Jesus lived his, therefore, we a doing what Christ did when He was on earth. As the passage goes on, we get a little deeper into what it means to be a imitator of God.
Verses 3-7 goes, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper to God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person --- such a man is an idolater--- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them."
Now as we read this, it is very easy to see a long list of rules and things we shouldn't do, and it is easy to think that you won't be able to live up to all of what is wanted from you. Well guess what, you can never live up to the expectations God has set, that is why Jesus was sent to earth. He was the only one who could be perfect. He was the perfect, blameless lamb who died for us, and if we believe in what Jesus did for us, the we will live in eternity with God. This doesn't mean that we will be perfect but it does mean that you have God's unending love, and there is nothing that can separate you from it. Now this could mean that you could do whatever you want once you believe, but I loved what one person said in my bible study. She said that every time we sin, we give Jesus another burden to carry to the cross. I don't know about you, but I don't want to place more sins of that cross I they could be avoided. Another reason to grow closer to God once you believe is that the closer you grow to God, the closer you grow towards joy. God is the only source for pure joy that you can't find in this world. The more you know about God and who He is, the more joy you can find. And when you grow closer to God, these verses in Ephesians don't seem as impossible. Slowly you will be able to understand what each of these verses are saying, and you can slowly overcome what these verses say what not to do. Sure it takes time, but the end results are worth it.
Verses 8-10 says, "For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of the light. (For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." When we accept Jesus, we no longer walk in the darkness, but we walk in the light of the Lord. When you grow closer to the Lord, you find out what is pleasing to Him, and he will start to reveal what His plan is for you. So I challenge you to spend some one-on-one time with God so you may grow closer to Him, and so that you can find out what pleases Him. This requires reading your bible on you own, prayer, fellowship with other believers, and just listing for God's voice. We can ask God to show Himself to us, but if you don't stop to listen to what God has to say, then how can we know what God wants for us, and what pleases Him. This doesn't have to become a everyday habit, but I do want you to try it and for you to see what can come out of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment