Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 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. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:1–21)This passage starts with therefore because the previous passage is about what God has done for me, including forgiveness of my sin. He has given me the ability to turn from sinful things and names many of them, then tells me to be filled with His Spirit which often includes a song in my heart and that I will be thankful for everything.
Reading that again makes me realize that if I am not thankful then I am not filled with Him but full of my sinful self, that old nature that wants what I want and quickly forgets that only God knows what I really need. And like bad news from my doctor and the resulting painful cure, I need to be thankful for whatever He uses to fix my broken and stubborn attitudes and behaviors.
In changing to more accurate imitation of God, starting small seems the best idea. Instead of griping when I sew a wrong seam, or my computer acts contrary to my wishes, or I burn my toast, I can find reason to be thankful for a good sewing machine and the ability to rip out an errant seam, thankful for a computer that saves me hours of time and give access to many resources, and the fact that there is more bread in the pantry to try again.
PRAY: Jesus, I so easily complain about such little things, yet if I cannot be thankful for the least of them, I will never be able to see Your goodness in the ALL things, including painful experiences and sad events. Fill me with Your Spirit for I need You to be thankful, but also enable me to have an eternal perspective that looks for ways to be like You even while I’m here living in time and in this very messy world. Open my eyes to see You — in everything, no matter what!
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