Refreshed: The Study of Ephesians – Ephesians 5
July 11, 2021
Ephesians 5
We are called to live for God and to be imitators of God (Eph 5:1), just as children follow after the patterns seen in their parents. Here are some of the patterns that a godly lifestyle would include:
- Living in love, which means giving of ourselves sacrificially for the benefit of others, just as Christ has done for us (5:2).
- Forsaking selfish pursuits such as self-seeking, immorality and ruthless greed (5:3,5).
- Replacing filthy talk, flippant chatter, and unkind jesting with communication rooted in thanksgiving to God and affirmation of others (5:4,20).
- Exercising discernment about what we are told so as not to be susceptible to trickery from others (5:6-7, 15).
- Bowing out from situations where evil is the agenda (5:11-12).
- Managing our time well (5:16).
Perhaps you’ll want to develop your own list of Christlike patterns from this passage and others. Consider asking a close believing friend to assess your progress.
