every day living, & a suggestion

Ephesians 5

1 Follow God's example in everything you do,

because you are his dear children.

2 Live a life filled with love,

following the example of Christ.

He loved us

and offered himself as a sacrifice for us,

a pleasing aroma to God.
  

3 Let there be no sexual immorality,

impurity,

or greed among you.

Such sins have no place among God's people.

4 Obscene stories,

foolish talk,

and coarse jokes;

these are not for you.

Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

5 You can be sure that no immoral,

impure,

or greedy person

will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

For a greedy person is an idolater,

worshiping the things of this world.
  

6 Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins,

for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.

7 Don't participate in the things these people do.

8 For once you were full of darkness,

but now you have light from the Lord.

So live as people of light!

9 For this light within you produces only what is good

and right

and true.

  10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness;

instead, expose them.

12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.

13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,

14 for the light makes everything visible.

This is why it is said,

"Awake, O sleeper,
  rise up from the dead,
  and Christ will give you light."

15 So be careful how you live.

Don't live like fools,

but like those who are wise.

16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

17 Don't act thoughtlessly,

but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

18 Don't be drunk with wine,

because that will ruin your life.

Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves,

and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul offers practical advice in everyday living in this letter of his to the follower of Jesus in the town of Ephesus.

Paul wrote this while in prison, so this whole letter was written with Paul having plenty of time to think things our before he speaks to them.

These 4 books in this section of the New testament are FILLED with all kinds of heady stuff & timeless truth.

They are all very short.

Galatians is just 6 chapter long.

So is Ephesians – 6 chapters.

Philippians is just 4 chapter, but oh my goodness! What those chapters hold!

And Colossians is 4 chapter, too.

It's very easy to sit down & read through one book in that 1 sitting.

I wouldn't suggest that, though, because these 4 books / letters are filled with all kinds of truth & challenging thinking.