Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Ephesians 5:1-10
Follow God’s
example, therefore, as dearly loved children and
walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for
us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (1-2)
God’s
ultimate goal in creating man was to have fellowship with him. But man failed
the test and alienated himself from the creator. The holiness and justice of
God would not permit an unholy alliance with the fallen man. Instead of
abandoning the man, he had created man in His own image. God made a way to
redeem mankind. God in His mercy, even before the foundation of the world had
planned for the redemption of man through the “lamb that was slain” (Rev.
13:8). Ever since the creation of man we see God at work in cleansing and
preparing a remnant for Himself. As a prelude to the Cleansing of the Church as
found in Ephesians 5:1-10 let us look at the cleansing activity God
undertook:
Cleansing
of the World:
Man through sin, is wicked and is against God. The wickedness of the world was
so great that God decides to destroy the earth with a flood. God used
Noah to warn the people to repent and turn to God to avoid the impending
judgment.
Cleansing
of a Nation: At
the request of the Israelites to have a king, God allowed a transition from
Theocracy to Monarchy. Unlike David most of the kings after him turned away
from Jehovah and followed the gods of the surrounding nations practicing
abominable things which were detestable in the eyes of the Lord. The penalty
was a long captivity in Assyria and Babylonia. When they returned they
were rid of idolatry.
Cleansing
of the Temple: As
Jesus entered the public ministry, one of the first things he did was to
cleanse the temple in Jerusalem. (John 2:12-22). The outer court of the
temple was designated for the non-Jewish people as a place of prayer, but the
greedy merchants turned the place into an emporium of thieves. The Lord got rid
of the merchants and their goods and re-opened the outer court for prayer
for the gentiles.
Cleansing
of the Church: Paul
exhorts the Ephesians to lead a holy life (Ephesians 4:22-24). As gentiles came
to faith in Christ and joined the church, they carried with them their old way
of life and manner of living. Ephesians 5:1-10 gives a long list of things
believers should give up, fornication, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talk
etc. There is a grave warning to the carnal Christian, “For this you
know, that no whoremonger, or unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an
idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
(Eph.5:5). Matthew Henry suggests remedy for some of these maladies:
“Filthy lusts must be suppressed,.. giving of thanks should be substituted for
obscene and profane wit.
Prayer: Lord, help me to guard
myself against the sins that would shut me out from your presence.
Thought
of the Day:
Sanctify and cleanse the church with the washing of water by the word…a
glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle … holy and without blemish.”
Mathews T John, NJMTC, Randolph