Ephesians 5: 1 – 14

January 17, 2023

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

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.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. – I had to read that twice. Proverbs 17:22 informs us: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

It’s ok to laugh and tell jokes and have a merry heart but like anything else, a little decorum goes a long way. Don’t act the clown. Don’t seek the attention of folks for your own satisfaction. Even priests work in a funny line or two in a sermon – it often catches us unaware and helps us to refocus on his message.

No one can tell me that in three years of ministry, Jesus and the disciples never laughed once. Humans are funny creatures! They do and say the oddest things.

We know Jesus wept (John 11:35); I just have always wished that someone would have mentioned, “Jesus laughed”.

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