Be
Imitators Of God As Dear Children
Therefore
be imitators of God as dear children. 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.
But
fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among
you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator,
unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in
the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no
one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God
comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore
do not be partakers with them.
For
you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of
light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the
Lord. And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those
things which are done by them in secret.
But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for
whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore
He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you
light.”
See
then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time,
because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:1-16
If
a flower needs light and we don’t provide it, the flower will die. Our care and
attention are not enough. We cannot make up for what the flower needs.
The
same is true of people. Although we can survive for a while in less-than-ideal
conditions, we can’t thrive. In addition to our basic physical needs, we also
have spiritual needs that can’t be met by any substitute.
Children of the Light walk in His light.
Our
Daily Bread – March 21, 2016