Walking the Talk - 12 March

Last week we saw that our walk should walk as Jesus walked – in His truth. Is that how you walk? Have you ever talked with someone who claimed to be a Christian, but looking at his life, you’d never be able to prove it? Did she “say a sinner’s prayer”, but continues to live like she did before? Salvation isn’t a magic pill that takes all your sins away, but should we just give in to the world’s temptations – or should we try to walk differently, even though we stumble?

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ( that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Eph 5:1-11 (ESV)

Ouch! I don’t see a lot of wiggle room in verse 5, do you?

How did Christ love us? We can’t give ourselves as an offering for others, but we can live as a living sacrifice to God. Do you think this walk is easy or hard? What obstacles are in your life that keep you from walking as Christ walked?

Do you watch too much TV? Do you avoid movies with unwholesome themes? Are you allowing sexual images to crowd your  mind and cloud your thoughts? Do you tell (or listen to) dirty jokes? Do you allow yourself to speak rudely about others? Are the lyrics in your favorite music clean and wholesome? When you read for pleasure, does the reading have sensual themes, graphic violence and foul language?

How can we stay away from this stuff? Is it even possible to do so?

Do these verses frighten you just a little? We all sin – right? And we all have different temptations – right? And doesn’t the Bible say that we just have to confess Jesus to be saved? So what’s the big deal if I still [insert your “favorite” sin here]?

I’d like you to take the next couple days and really ponder this passage. Are you a sinner, saved by grace, who still sins on a daily basis and asks God to forgive you, or do you think that salvation is a “heavenly insurance policy” which allows you all the pleasures of the world, plus that home in glory? Or, like many of us, are you simply trying to justify the “best stuff” as a sin not listed in the Bible, and therefore okay? Whatever it is that you and I do, the fact that sin is sin cannot be forgotten. What sins do you need to ask Jesus to help you work through? Be honest. If you don’t know, ask the One Who knows – Jesus Christ!

See you Wednesday.