Monday - Ephesians 6 - Holiness (part 2)

  

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GAIN, there are some very specific & infinitely practical things that we should be doing as we strive to live holily. The grace of God does not relieve us from the obligations of submission to authority. Instead, we are enabled to live in a godly manner. At home, at work, or at play – it is imperative that we consider God's holy heart in every circumstance. "How does what I'm doing/thinking/saying make God feel?" That's quite a new perspective (when juxtaposed against questions about how it might feel to me to get caught breaking God's laws). Children toward their parents, & parents over their children; employees toward their employers, & employers over their employees – in every case, we are to do all things "as to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:22, 6:1, 4-7 & 9), considering His wishes; His wants. Our motivation is different than before.  The possibilities are way different as well; infinitely exceeding what we could accomplish under the former paradigm.

 

We have Christ. Rather, He has us. He is preeminent! Real holiness; holiness of the heart; a pure conscience; a clean record – were these things ever a possibility before Christ entered into the picture; before we were quickened?  It's a rhetorical question.  We know instinctively and doctrinally that the answer is an emphatic negative. But now that (by His love and mercy) we have access to Him, the sky is the limit. Of course, holiness alone is not our objective. We seek simply to please the Father and to worship Him truly. He is worthy! We were made for this very purpose.