Aloha and good morning to you all. As always, I hope this finds you well and provides you encouragement.
We continued our study this week with Ephesians Ch.5. Paul began this rich Chapter outlining how we ought to live: Principally by following the example set by Christ. He then applied this maxim across our lives, coupled it with a ponderous list of warnings and reiterated a plea for us to fulfill our potential. In all this chapter provides an excellent road map to successful living.
“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.”
How many times have you been burned in a relationship? You put yourself out there for someone, a friend or even family member, and they let you down. How many times have you let people down? Disappointing people is a major fear and as a result we live in the age of 'maybe' and remain noncommittal. We fear we will let someone down, but we also don't want to miss out on something else, so we fail to provide decisive answers. However, as we have all experienced, the results on both sides are far worse than a simple no. The receiver entertains false hope or at best remain uncertain (a power and trust draining posture.) While you, the giver, experience guilt and a level of regret regardless of your eventual action. Ultimately the act is both self and relationship defeating.
This thought fresh in our mind, let's examine the scripture above once more, 'His love was not cautious but extravagant.' Life constantly beats us down and with all the uncertainty and hurt we experience. The resultant skepticism drive us to become exacting with our appropriation of love. Paul calls on us to challenge this loop. We need to love people by being more honest with them and it can all start with minor engagements. While a 'maybe' initially feels better than a no, it manifests a significantly more painful slow burn. If our ultimate end state is to love people, we should provide them with closure but it doesn't end there.
"He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us." It's easy to love people when we are getting something, be it affection, affirmation, empathy, or even gifts. Much more challenging to love when there is nothing to be gained. Yet this is the example Jesus embodied. Anyone can love their friends, but how much time do we dedicate to love the 'unlovables'?
“You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.”
To me, Paul is acknowledges that in our naivety we made poor decisions and flung ourselves into various vices. However, now matured, we understand the error in our ways and need to change. I like the symbolism he uses by describing being out in the open. I struggled my way through a golf game this week (which may have been better described as hockey by onlookers) and the feeling when you got out of the woods/rough back onto the fairway is difficult to replicate. We all aspire to live in that free/open center line from which we have an abundance of options and room to run, not trapped in the woods with only one friction-filled pathway that caps our potential. Paul encourages us to focus on "the good, the right, the true" and "get on with it!" Fairly straightforward guidance to as to how one ought to approach life if our aim is to remain 'on the fairway'.
“So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.”
Paul sounds like a boxing trainer encouraging his fighter in the corner. And I think that's appropriate. This life is undoubtedly a struggle, but we posses a level of power to make it more or less so with our choices. He also harkens back to the recurring topic of intentional/deliberate living. We need to understand ourselves and make calculated efforts to capitalize on our opportunities. We need to cast aside the vision of ourselves as victims and reclaim control of those items we can control in our lives.
Practical Application: we are called to follow God's example, to let go of our old vices, and to make the most of the life we have been given. We follow God's example by loving people, providing honest answers and removing the constraint of receiving something in return. We let go of our old vices because they limit our options, and our focus should instead reside on that which is good, right, and true which exponentially increases opportunities. And we can make the most of our lives by living in a truly intentional manner and not accepting the victim mentality.
I hope you have a great weekend and stay encouraged and driven as always. Please share with a friend, 'like' the post, and leave a comment!
-the contrary disciple