Praise the Lord! Once again, the Lord has blessed us with another thoughtful and contemplative Scripture passage (Ephesians 4:30-5:2) to study and meditate upon as He added another week in to our life on earth. Reading, studying, and obeying the Word of God will transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). In addition, our perspective about everything we see, hear, and imagine will also change as we understand the Word of God more and more. The Word of God exposes the filthiness of sin and all forms of infirmities in us (John 15:3; 17:17; Ephesians 5:25-26), and enables us to envisage the real-life condition (good or bad) of our inner being as we meditate the Word of God, as it is mentioned in the book of Hebrews: For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). As a result, the Holy Spirit will help us get rid of all sinful thoughts and attitudes of our heart and will cleanse and purify us from all filthiness of sin that is prevalent in us. Studying and meditating on the Word of God (the Scripture) …

• • … will draw oneself closer to the throne of grace
  • … will help believers to pursue godly living
  • … will prevent a believer from doing wrongful actions
  • … will give a definite picture of God’s purpose in our life
  • … will show the spiritual/godly path for our spiritual pilgrimage
  • … will give believers eternal perspective of their calling
  • … will transform one into Christ’s likeness

The study of the holy Scriptures not only draws believers closer to the throne of God, but it also will enrich one’s spiritual life because the Word of God is used for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness and equipping God’s saints for every good work, as Apostle Paul stated: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). According to Agur son of Jakeh, Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar (Proverbs 30:5-6).

Let us analyze and study the Scripture as we meditate on the passage (Ephesians 4:30-5:2) we chose for this week’s Scripture for the Week (SftW) meditation. Apostle Paul talks about several spirit-filled-life-lessons in and through this Scripture passage in connection with one’s salvation and the promised inheritance at the return of Jesus Christ. God will definitely fulfill the promise He made, as the author of Hebrews stated in relation to the promise God made with Abraham:

10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 … imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself … 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised (Hebrews 6:10-15)

If Abraham received what was promised to him, we will also receive what has been promised to us in the Scripture. Since God does not fail to fulfill His promises to His people (Joshua 21:45; 23:14; I Kings 8:56), Apostle Paul urges the believers at Ephesus (also, it is applicable to all believers across the world regardless of where and when they live) not to do anything that will impede/hamper their salvation and promised inheritance. Some of the important and spirit-filled-life-lessons we can learn from the passage we chose for this week’s mediation (Ephesians 4:30-5:2) are mentioned below for our spiritual well-being:

*The very first thing Apostle Paul reminded the believers in Corinth was not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God because those who are saved by faith in Jesus Christ are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of their redemption (Ephesians 4:30). He exhorted them earlier that the seal of the Holy Spirit serves as the deposit that guarantees believers’ salvation and heavenly inheritance until the day of their redemption:

13 You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Even devout believers can cause the Holy Spirit of God sadness and grief by their sinful actions, that is, if they are given to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, as Apostle John stated: For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world (1 John 2:16). Anyone that does anything that is against the will of God will cause the Holy Spirit of God to grieve, including unbelief in God’s sovereignty (Genesis 6:5-6; 2 Kings 11:9-10; Proverbs 6:16-18; 11:1; 17:15; Isaiah 63:10; Romans 1:18; Mark 3:5a). If it is in the case of devout believers, the density of grievance will increase, which might result in losing their salvation and the promised inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Apostle Paul, being a devout believer and a faithful servant of Lord Jesus Christ, worries about the believers at Ephesus (and believers in general, that is including you and me) that just in case a believer grieves the Holy Spirit with some of their wrongful actions, their redemption will be at stake and there is possibility of losing their salvation as well as the promised inheritance at the return of Jesus Christ. So, he urges the believers everywhere do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom they were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

*The second thing Apostle Paul tells the believers is to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice (Ephesians 4:31). No human being can ever claim that they don’t feel bitterness, rage, or anger against anybody or they haven’t (or will not) brawl with or slander anyone. If anyone thinks/says that they are free of such things, it will grieve the Holy Spirit of God because these kinds of things exist in everybody’s life (except in the human form of Christ Jesus [Isaiah 53:9; John 19:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:5]) and once in a while it bubbles out from our heart and causes troubles to others and grieves the Holy Spirit of God. Apostle Paul stated this about the people who pass judgment on others when he wrote to the believers in Rome:

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed (Romans 2:1-5)

Only Jesus (in and through the work of the Holy Spirit) can help us to overcome such crises/issues in our lives. We, as the devout followers of Jesus Christ, need to confess our wrongdoing before God and submit our life to His will, so that we may find God’s mercy in our life, as the writer of Proverbs states that whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy (Proverbs 28:13). In the light of this, we, the believers in the Lord, must confess and renounce our wrongful attitudes and actions, if not, we will damage our relationship with our Lord God and hinder our day-to-day walk with Jesus, which will weaken our spiritual strength. Therefore, let us put away all things that hinders our relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and seek His mercy in our life. Proverbs 28:14 states that Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

*The third thing Apostle Paul talks here is to Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). These are, in fact, some of the marks of one’s Christian identity. As followers of Christ Jesus, we need to behave the same way Jesus taught us to behave or do what Jesus told us to do. For instance, we need to forgive others just as in Christ God forgave us. Apostle Paul urges the believers that instead of entertaining wrongful attitudes and actions, such as bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, revenge, and every form of malice, be devoted to cherish rightful attitudes and actions such as love, compassion, kindness, tenderness, forgiveness, and so on, because in Christ God showed us His loving compassion and mercy and forgave us of all our shortcomings.

*The fourth thing Apostle Paul talks about here is to Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1). Apostle Paul urges the believers to follow God’s example as dearly loved children. Elsewhere, Apostle Paul encouraged the early Christians to imitate his example, as he imitates Christ’s example: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6). In the context of our meditation, Apostle Paul urges the believers in Ephesus to follow God’s example (in word and deed) in their life as dearly loved children, in other words, be imitators of God. From this statement we can understand that instead of walking in the way of the world and practicing all the wrongful words and deeds, follow the example of God and practice the rightful words and deeds. The wrongful words and deeds will lead to death and destruction that are pronounced in the Scripture (Isaiah 13:6-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10), whereas the rightful words and deeds will lead to life in abundance (everlasting life) and heavenly inheritance that is promised in the Scripture (Deuteronomy 30:20; Acts 17:28). In fact, Jesus, who is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3), showed us the Father as well as the example of doing things in Father’s way (John 10:30; 12:49-50; 14:31 [Matthew 28:20]). As devout followers of Christ Jesus, believers must follow God’s example in word and deed as dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1).

*The fifth thing Apostle Paul talks here is that we, the believers, ought to walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us (Ephesians 5:2a). It is a fact that no one can love us more than the Lord God loves us. If we try, we may be able to measure, in one way or other, the love of others, including our dear and near ones, who claim that they love us more than anyone else; but there is no measuring tools ever to measure how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for us (Ephesians 3:18). The manifestation of Christ Jesus in human form and His ransom death on the cross is the ultimate revelation of God’s love for humanity (John 3:16; 15:13; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9-10). Apostle John, who is known among Christians as the Apostle of love, stated that For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Thus, Christ Jesus not only revealed the Father (the Lord God Almighty) to humanity (John 17:25-26) but also revealed His absolute love for humanity (John 3:16).

*The sixth thing Apostle Paul talks about here is that we must surrender to the will of God and give of ourselves fully for the service of God as Christ gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2b). Jesus said that He [the Son of Man] did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45; John 13:1-17). We read in the Scripture that Jesus came to do the will of God (John 6:38; 4:34), and He did everything the Father commanded Him to do, as He testified to His followers: Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does (John 5:19). Apostle Paul stated in his Epistle to the Philippians that Christ Jesus

6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8)

The writer of Hebrews states that For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant (Hebrews 9:15). As Christ fulfilled the purpose of His coming on the cross by offering His life as a ransom, He will return to bring salvation for everyone who is waiting for Him as it is mentioned in Hebrews 9:28 that Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

The Lord, who came to serve humanity and fulfilled the purpose of God in and through His life, is calling you and I to follow His footsteps in serving God and His people (both the saved and the unsaved). In fact, every believer in the Lord is called to serve the Lord, as Apostle Peter reminds us: To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). Apostle Peter continued saying that

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, the Lord has blessed the Scripture and our meditation. In the light of our meditation this week based on Ephesians 4:30-5:2, we can learn that:

• • We are called to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God (4:30a)
  • We are called to keep the seal of the Holy Spirit of God upon us until the day of our redemption (4:30b)
  • We are called to get rid of all bitterness (4:31a)
  • We are called to get rid of all rage (4:31b)
  • We are called to get rid of all anger (4:31c)
  • We are called to get rid of all brawling attitude (4:32d)
  • We are called to get rid of all slander against others (4:31e)
  • We are called to get rid of every kind of malice (4:32f)
  • We are called to be kind to one another (4:32a)
  • We are called to be compassionate to one another (4:32b)
  • We are called to be forgiving of each other (4:32c)
  • We are called to follow the example of God as dearly loved children (5:1)
  • We are called to walk in the way of love (5:2a)
  • We are called to love the Lord God Almighty and our neighbor just as the way Christ loved us (5:2b)
  • We are called to give ourselves up in the service of God just as Christ gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (5:2c)

We are all called to serve the Lord God Almighty who created the heavens and earth and everything in it (Genesis 1:1-31), who came down to the earth in the form of a human being and gave Himself up as a ransom for our lives (Psalm 98:2; Romans 5:8; 6:23; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 Peter 3:18). Let us serve Him faithfully and unconditionally. May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!