SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR5/31/2019
8:24 AM
My Worship Time Focus: We are
Saints
Bible Reading and Meditation Reference: Ephesians
5:3-4
Message of the verses: “3 But fornication,
and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as
becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which
are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks” (KJV).
I
promised to quote what Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote on Ephesians 5:3-4 in his
commentary on the book of Ephesians and that is the reason that I used the KJV
of the Bible, for that is what he used.
We
will be looking at a sub-section from his main section which covers Ephesians 5:3-14,
and he entitled the main section “Walk As Children of Light.” He wrote the following short introduction on
this main section as follows: “Since ‘God
is light’ and we are imitating our Father, then we should walk in the light and
have nothing to do with the darkness of sin.
Paul gives three descriptions of believers that prove his point.”
“We
are saints (vv. 3-4). That is, we are ‘set-apart
ones’ and no longer belong to the world of darkness around us. We have been ‘called out of darkness into His
marvelous light’ (1 Peter 2:9). It is
beneath the dignity of a saint to indulge in the sins that belong to the world
of darkness, some of which Paul names here.
He warns us against the sexual sins (fornication, uncleanness) which
were so prevalent in that day—and are prevalent today. Sad to say, those sins have invaded the homes
of Christians and brought grief to local churches too. ‘Covetousness’ may seem out of place next to
fornication, but the two sins are but different expressions of the same basic
weakness of fallen nature—uncontrolled appetite. The fornicator and the covetous person each
desire to satisfy the appetite by taking what does not belong to them. ‘The lust of the flesh and the lust of the
eyes’ (1 John 2:16) would describe these two sins. ‘Let there not be even a hint of these sins!’
said Paul.
“In Ephesians 5:4 he warned against
sins of the tongue, which, of course, are really sins of the heart. It is not difficult to see the relationship
between the sins named in Ephesians 5:3 and those of Ephesians 5:4. People who have base appetites usually cultivate
a base kind of speech and humor, and often people who want to commit sexual
sins, or have committed them, enjoy jesting about them. Two indications of a person’s character are
what makes him laugh and what makes him weep.
The saint of God sees nothing humorous in obscene language or
jests. ‘Foolish talking’ does not edify
or minister grace to the hearers (Eph. 4:29).
Paul is not condemning small talk because much conversation falls into
that classification. He is condemning
foolish talk that accomplishes no good purpose.
“Jesting is a translation of the word
that means ‘able to turn easily.’ This
suggests a certain kind of conversationalist who can turn any statement into a
coarse jest. The gift of wit is a
blessing, but when it is attached to a filthy mind or a base motive, it becomes
a curse. There are quick-witted people
who can pollute any conversation with jests that are always inconvenient (out
of place). How much better it is for us
to be quick to give thanks! This is
certainly the best way to give glory to God and keep the conversation pure.
“A
Christian woman attended an anniversary dinner in honor of a friend, not
knowing that there would be a program of low comedy following the meal. The so-called comedian tried to entertain the
crowd with coarse humor that degraded everything that the Christian guest held
to be sacred and honorable. At one point
in the program, the comedian’s throat became dry. ‘Please bring me a glass of water, ‘he called
to a waiter.
“At
that point the Christian woman added, ‘And bring a toothbrush and a bar of soap
with it!’ To be sure, soap in the mouth
will never cleanse the conversation, but she made her point.
“Christians
who have God’s Word in their hearts (Col. 3:16) will always season their speech
with salt (Col. 4:6); for grace in the heart means grace on the lips.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: I desire to be like the Christian woman that Dr.
Wiersbe spoke of in his commentary, and have the courage to speak out when
things like happened to her happens to me.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Humility is
still on my mind, and I continue to pray that the Lord will continue to teach
me more about this today and every day, so that my life will bring glory to my
Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse that goes with yesterday’s
quotation is Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in
the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
5/31/2019 8:55 AM
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