Seek First – Kingdom Focused Devotionals

“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” (Eph. 5:11).

                We are continuing in the theme of darkness and light.  Since we are children of the Light, it becomes apparent that it is no longer desirable for us to participate in the deeds of darkness.  The old life lived in darkness was essentially a waste of life and therefore rightly described as unfruitful. 

                Life is essentially a matter of fruit or no fruit in the sight of God.  The unfruitful life is often characterized by strenuous activity of man who attempts to do good in human strength as opposed to the natural development of the Light of God within man which leads to an outward manifestation of good (Godly) fruit. 

                Since darkness has been banished by the coming of the Light, there must be no participation in the old deeds of darkness.  The responsibility of the believer is to “expose” or “reprove” them.  This does not suggest a “finger-pointing-pharisaical-approach-to-life.”  The goal in exposing darkness is to share Light.  The goal is conversion.  The life of the believer should be so radical and so appealing that it exposes the sin of others and leads them to desire the Light that shines from within us. 

Prayer:  Father, I pray that Your light will show through me to expose the futility of darkness.  Amen.

“Trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”  (Eph. 5:10).

                Do you remember when you first fell in love?  Can you still remember how you studied your beloved to understand those things which most pleased them?  You were a careful student because your love made you desire to please the beloved in every way.  Are you trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord?

                Since verse 9 is a parenthetical insertion, this verse must be read with verse 8 in mind.  In the matter of our daily life, we desire to make decisions based on what is pleasing to the Lord.  To do so we must first make a diligent effort to “learning” the will of God.  The word translated “learning” can also mean “proving for oneself,” which involves choosing and implementing the will of God.  The Christian is not a learner for the sheer joy of learning; he/she is a learner for the sheer joy of pleasing the Lord. 

                The Light of God is freely given but it does not free man from the responsibility of learning, thinking, and choosing.  The thoughts and choices of the citizen of the Light are controlled by the desire to please the Lord and not oneself.  Does this describe you?

Prayer:  Father, may I live today to please You.  Amen.

“For the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”  (Eph. 5:9).

                If we are children of the Light, it stands to reason that we should be the fruit of the Light.  Paul is making a point which should be obvious to all.  Behavior should match profession.  If one claims to be a born again believer, there should be evidence in the person’s life that the new nature is bearing fruit which is natural to it. 

                Notice that Paul includes three virtues which should be seen in the lives of those who are children of the Light.  “Goodness” defines the action which is the active seeking of good in every part of one’s life.  “Righteous” defines the character of God and therefore the one who walks in righteousness walks in God.  His/her righteousness is a reflection of God’s life through the human life.  Thirdly there is “truth” which is the opposite of error and deceit.  The believer lives by truth and for truth.  There is no deception in his/her life.

                Quite a standard!  Impossible, you think!  Not for the Holy Spirit who indwells us.  It is for this reason that the Christian life is a life of ultimate and absolute surrender. 

Prayer:  Father, I surrender all to You.  Live Your life through me.  Amen.

“Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of the Light” (Eph. 5:7-8).

                The “therefore” links this injunction with the verses that have gone before.  In the light of the sure judgment of God and the incompatibility of immoral behavior with membership in the kingdom, Paul warns his readers that they can no longer participate with those whose behavior marks them off as sons of disobedience.  To continue to behave in such a manner would be an utter denial of their Christian profession. 

                The word “Light” expresses God’s majesty and glory which are the reflection of His perfect holiness.  “Light” can also be used to speak of the truth that God desires to reveal Himself to man (Ps. 43:3).  It follows that the opposite of God’s glory and holiness is darkness, which speaks of the world estranged from God. 

                Christians are those who have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.  Paul is calling them to live up to their calling; to live according to their new nature.  As children of the Light, we must pursue all our daily activities in accordance with our new nature and as we do, the Light within us will radiate from us directing others to the Light. 

Prayer:  Father, help me today to walk as a child of the Light.  Amen.

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5:6).

                  It is likely that an early form of the heresy known as Gnosticism prompted the writing of Ephesians and Colossians.  Gnostics believed that the body was inconsequential to the spiritual life and therefore such fleshly practices as those condemned here were treated lightly by those following these false doctrines. 

                Paul argues that such teachings were “empty words.”  In Colossians 2:8 he refers to such teaching as “empty deception.”  His readers in the first century and the twenty-first century were to be on their guard against such heretical teaching, lest they be seduced by them.  It is precisely this immoral behavior which brings down the wrath of God on the “sons of disobedience.”  You may recall that Paul used this same term in Eph. 2:2 to describe persons who are caught in the web of deception of the prince of the power of the air. 

                Paul’s clear point is that persons, who have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness, can no longer tolerate behavior that belongs to “sons of disobedience.”  They have been redeemed by a Holy God and must therefore be holy as He is holy. 

Prayer:  Father, teach me Your truth so that I will never be deceived by empty words.  Amen.

“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph. 5:5).

                The beginning words of this verse underline the solemnity of what Paul is about to say.  No one who is guilty of such practices has any share in the heavenly kingdom.  Only those who have truly been regenerated can enter the kingdom and these habitual practices bear witness to an unregenerate heart.  Such impure and covetous practice as mentioned above in the text, give evidence that an individual has not truly repented and turned from sin and to Christ for redemption

The kingdom of Christ and God does not indicate two different kingdoms.   Paul often uses the term “kingdom of Christ” for the present phase of the divine kingdom.  That kingdom will be turned over to the Father in its future consummation in all of its glory.  Can you imagine such a kingdom which is full of glory?  I certainly want to enjoy that kingdom with God forever!  Do you know Him as your King and Savior?  Have you repented of your sin and asked Christ to forgive you?  Are you allowing the Spirit to fully control your life?  If not, why not?  Why not now?

Prayer:  Father, I desire to live with You forever in Your kingdom.  Amen

“And there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Eph. 5:4).

                Paul may still be dealing with sexual purity as he prohibits filthiness, silly talk, and coarse jesting.  These too are deemed not fitting for the believer whose life goal is to praise and glorify God. 

                “Filthiness” refers to anything which should make a morally sensitive person ashamed.  Bear in mind that Paul is talking about persons in whom the Holy Spirit lives.  Any language or sexual references which would grieve the Holy Spirit would not be fitting for a believer.  “Silly talk” are words which have neither sense nor profit.  We sometimes forget that our words have power and meaning.  “Coarse jesting” means humor that is inappropriate and unclean.  Christians are not called to be devoid of humor, they are called to avoid filthy language which demeans the beauty of sexual purity. 

                Such inappropriate speech is to be replaced by “giving of thanks.”  Conversation about sex, possessions, and people should be guarded by the spirit of thanksgiving and praise for the beauty of God’s gifts.  The “giving of thanks” replaces corrupt and corrupting speech with speech that gives grace to others.  Have you taken a language check lately?  Does your speech tear down and corrupt or build up and give grace? 

Prayer:  Father, may my speech celebrate your goodness and give grace to others.  Amen.

“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints” (Eph. 5:3).

                Earlier Paul spoke of putting off the old man and putting on the new.  The new man will not simply give up sinful acts but will replace them with loving behavior.  Paul has now called believers to walk in loving behavior that is modeled after that of Christ.   He now turns to the perversion of love as defined by immorality and impurity. 

                The Greek word porneia from which we get the English word “pornography” is used here.  It can be understood to include all forms of sexual perversion.  Sexual perversion threatens God’s plan for a life-long union of one man and one woman.  Sexual perversion can be spoken of in terms of “impurity” and “greed” or “covetousness.”  Sexual sin is “uncleanness” because purity means the control and direction of sexual appetites in accordance with the law and purpose of God.  It is “ruthless greed” because it is a selfish indulgence at the expense of others. 

                Such impure and selfish behavior should never be named among believers.  The Old Testament prohibited mentioning the names of the gods of heathen nations or speaking of their manner of worship (Ex. 23:13).  Christians should neither practice sexual immorality nor take in pleasure in talking about such behavior to others (see also 5:12). 

Father:  Guard my life and my lips so that I might remain sexually pure.  Amen.

“And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:2).

                The word “walk” means the conduct of one’s life.  Love then is to characterize the Christian’s daily life.  The “love” which is to characterize our daily conduct is not the love of natural human affection, but a love born from the love of Christ who gave Himself up for us. 

                Christ’s love was demonstrated in the greatest act of self-giving in human history.  He gave Himself as the sacrifice for our sin.  He gave Himself for sinners who were the cause of His death.  He gave Himself unconditionally.  The clear teaching is that our love must also be characterized by sacrificial giving, even when it is not deserved nor reciprocated. 

                Christ’s love was an offering and a sacrifice which is described as a fragrant aroma to God.  The Old Testament sacrifices were spoken of as a “fragrant aroma” to indicate that they were pleasing to God.  The cross appeared to man as a scene of horror and death, but it was an action that filled heaven with a fragrant aroma.  Our life must have a similar fragrance and that will only be true when we choose to walk in love. 

Prayer:  Father, allow me to be a fragrant aroma to You as I give my life in love.  Amen.

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Eph. 5:1)

                I now have seven grandchildren, six and under.  It has been a sheer delight watching them grow up.  I am constantly amazed at how many things are learned by imitation.  Children imitate their parents and siblings as they learn to do the basic functions of everyday life.  The word “imitation” is used several times in the New Testament for following a human example.  This present location is the only place where we are told to imitate God.  In this verse Paul calls on believers, who are beloved children, to imitate their heavenly Father. 

                The immediate context indicates that Paul is still talking about “forgiving each other” (4:32).  If you read verse 32 again, you will notice that Paul called on them to forgive each other based on God’s forgiveness of them.  When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He instructed them to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12).  When we forgive another, we most resemble our Father.  Forgiveness is neither natural nor easy.  God does not ask us to do that which He has not empowered us to do. 

                While this context does indicate that Paul is first concerned about imitating Christ when it comes to forgiving another; this theme of imitation covers all of the Christian life.  Those who are children of God must constantly aspire to become more like our Father (Matt. 5:48).  Do people see the Father reflected in your life?

Prayer:  Father, may I daily become more like you.  Amen