[Ascend] - Day 11

“A Pleasing Sacrifice”

Read 

Ephesians 5:1-21

1 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. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

    and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Reflection

Going deeper is living a life of sacrifice. To be imitators of God doesn’t mean we strive by our own volition and efforts to become perfect and holy like God. Rather, it means that Jesus is our model for living a full and fulfilled life. He is our standard. Our lives should pattern after His. What does it look like to imitate or reflect the likeness of God? It is to walk in love. The extent of Jesus’ love was to give Himself up for us. He gave us the ultimate sacrifice, Himself, so that we, his enemies, could live. To live a life of sacrifice means we first die to ourselves. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit to say no to the things of the flesh and fill our desires with the things of God, to follow His will. Second, to live a life of sacrifice is to submit to one another. To submit means to put into order, position, or rank. It is a reprioritizing of our relational orders. It is about putting others before us just as Christ put us before Himself. 

Pray

Ask the Lord for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit that we may be continually transformed by He who is in us than the one who is in the world.

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