Word@Work Eph61 - Ephesians 5:11-12
Published: Fri, 12/19/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
NO SHADOW OF DOUBT
Ephesians 5:11-12 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. (NIV)
The Apostle has been quite straight about the sort of behaviour that is off-limits for Christians. It may jar with the tolerant age in which we live, but 'living in the light' will always be a peculiar lifestyle to those who don't love Jesus. The 'deeds of darkness' are described as being 'fruitless' - they have no ability to produce the good things that God desires of us. Spiritual bareness produces nothing. Christian fellowship is a special relationship in which we can call each other to account: and this is one of the reasons why the office CU or the works prayer meeting is so important. If one goes off track, the others (in a spirit of gentleness, cf Gal 6:1) should be there to help him or her be restored to fellowship and fruitfulness.
Gossip is not caused by a loose tongue: it is fermented in a malignant heart. The coffee room conversation that starts with, "Have you heard ...?" is the beginning of a reputation ruined or a friendship shattered. Discussion of 'after the office party' is hardly ever profitable, and best left unsaid. People will go wrong and mess up, but to perpetuate a moral superiority over them is hypocritical, and to recommend their behaviour as normal or exciting is perverse. If anything has to be said it needs to be done with a heart full of love, because love covers over a multitude of sins (cf 1 Pet 4:8).
The problem with the mixed motives that so easily spoil our lives is that we can find a way to justify joining in on the edge of dark things. Yet when darkness overtakes another believer, an ugly censorious spirit rises up to blame and defame. The cure for all this is to keep a keen eye on one's own heart. Start off by deciding not to speak about wicking things, look at wrong images, go to ungodly places or to keep serious company with those who will do their best to pull you into their muddy swamp. The office party is a great place to practice this, and even though you may be ridiculed at not joining in with their darkened plans (cf 1 Pet 4:4), they will eventually recognise that you were right before God (cf 1 Pet 2:12) and be grateful that you were different.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Please help me to see the darkness around me for what it is, unfruitful and destructive. Help me to keep walking in the light and resist being drawn into the shadows, so that my colleagues may see the integrity that comes from Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me today and this month to be a good advertisement for You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and Spanish
The Apostle has been quite straight about the sort of behaviour that is off-limits for Christians. It may jar with the tolerant age in which we live, but 'living in the light' will always be a peculiar lifestyle to those who don't love Jesus. The 'deeds of darkness' are described as being 'fruitless' - they have no ability to produce the good things that God desires of us. Spiritual bareness produces nothing. Christian fellowship is a special relationship in which we can call each other to account: and this is one of the reasons why the office CU or the works prayer meeting is so important. If one goes off track, the others (in a spirit of gentleness, cf Gal 6:1) should be there to help him or her be restored to fellowship and fruitfulness.
Gossip is not caused by a loose tongue: it is fermented in a malignant heart. The coffee room conversation that starts with, "Have you heard ...?" is the beginning of a reputation ruined or a friendship shattered. Discussion of 'after the office party' is hardly ever profitable, and best left unsaid. People will go wrong and mess up, but to perpetuate a moral superiority over them is hypocritical, and to recommend their behaviour as normal or exciting is perverse. If anything has to be said it needs to be done with a heart full of love, because love covers over a multitude of sins (cf 1 Pet 4:8).
The problem with the mixed motives that so easily spoil our lives is that we can find a way to justify joining in on the edge of dark things. Yet when darkness overtakes another believer, an ugly censorious spirit rises up to blame and defame. The cure for all this is to keep a keen eye on one's own heart. Start off by deciding not to speak about wicking things, look at wrong images, go to ungodly places or to keep serious company with those who will do their best to pull you into their muddy swamp. The office party is a great place to practice this, and even though you may be ridiculed at not joining in with their darkened plans (cf 1 Pet 4:4), they will eventually recognise that you were right before God (cf 1 Pet 2:12) and be grateful that you were different.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Please help me to see the darkness around me for what it is, unfruitful and destructive. Help me to keep walking in the light and resist being drawn into the shadows, so that my colleagues may see the integrity that comes from Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me today and this month to be a good advertisement for You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Why not share Word@Work with your friends - they can subscribe at http://www.beaconlight.co.uk/email!
If you value your free Word@Work - an occasional donation will help us to maintain and develop the ministry - thank you!
If you value your free Word@Work - an occasional donation will help us to maintain and develop the ministry - thank you!
W@WEph61 | Word@Work © Dr Paul Adams 2008 | Provided by BeaconLight
Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk
Your next Word@Work will be sent on