Following His Footsteps

¹Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:1-20

Introduction

• What we have been called to be:
  • holy and without blame before Him in love
  • sons by Jesus Christ to Himself
  • fellow citizens with the saints
  • members of the household of God
  • a holy temple in the Lord
  • fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ

• The sort “walk” that is worthy of our calling:
  • walking together in unity (note: in communion with our community)
  • walking in truth and holiness (note: remembering our identity as Christians at all times)
• Note: The importance of this chapter is in that we are to be “followers of God as dear children”; and just as God is “love, light, and wisdom” personified, so should we try to imitate our Father.

1. Walk in Love (v. 1-7)

• Note: Tell the story of the “The Power of Example”
  • Benjamin Franklin wants to convince the citizens of Philadelphia to light the streets at night as protection against crime, and as a convenience for evening activities.
  • Failing to convince with his words, he started to light just the front of his house with an attractive lantern which he cleans and lights every night.
  • The neighbours realized how nice lighted streets are by the power of his example.

• In this chapter, we are exhorted to follow Christ as our example.
  • Jesus certainly loved us and have given Himself for us.
  • He offered Himself to God as an offering and sacrifice in our behalf.
  • We should let His example teach us how to walk in love.

• We should ensure that our love is pure.
  • It should be free from any hint of immorality or greed. (Note: We shouldn’t love with a demanding expectation in return, sacrificial, and free from any hint of personal gain, either sexual or monetary.)
  • Even joking about immorality or greed are unbecoming to those who are saints.

Reflection: Are you living as an example for others? How do you ensure that you are living in love everyday?

2. Walk as Light (v. 8-14)

• Before coming to Christ, we were once “darkness”, but now we are light in the Lord, and should walk as children of light.
• The fruit expected of those “children of light” is “goodness, righteousness, and truth”.
  • We are not to have fellowship with “unfruitful works of darkness”, i.e. fornication, uncleanness, covetousness.
  • Instead, our task is to expose them, no matter how shameful or disgraceful.

Reflection: Are there still areas in your life that are covered in darkness? Do you ensure that everything you are doing in your life right now can be accounted for to your family?

3. Walk as Wise (v. 15-21)

• Note: Walking as light is an awesome responsibility, and is only possible if one has the wisdom that only comes from God.

• Characteristics of “walking wise”:
  • Doing so with great care (note: being deliberate, circumspective, exacting; unlike being foolish who care little about what is happening and what they are doing).
  • Taking advantage of the time available to one (note: making responsible choices about what we do with our time; making sure that we are so idle that we indulge in foolish acts).
  • Understanding the will of the Lord.
• Those who walk as wise are filled with spirit, as indicated by the following:
  • singing praises
  • giving thanks
  • submitting to one another in the fear of God

Reflection: Can you name other specific ways by which we can tell that a person is filled in the spirit? Can you think of circumstances in your life when you think you should have acted with more wisdom than you did?

Challenge

• In the following week, try to be more self-reflective, and catch yourself when your walk with Christ is being challenged.
• Try to check your reactions, and compare them against the admonitions of Paul, seeing if you are walking worthy of our calling.
• SMS me (91834591 ^^) or any one of our brothers and sisters when you find a particular area or situation in your life when you were able to apply what you learned in the discussion today.