How Christians Should Live, According to the Book of Ephesians
In a world where deception and confusion seem to be taking over, it’s hard to navigate life as a God-seeking and faithful Christian. In our modern society, the lines have become very blurred between what is right and wrong, and our Christian morals and views can become skewed, as the devil’s lies run wild.
The Word of God is such a powerful and steadfast resource given to us by our Heavenly Father. He knew that our world would be overrun with lies and deception, and He knew we would need His truth to keep us anchored and strong. The Bible is filled with God’s promises to us, examples of how much He loves us, encouragement for when we’re facing difficulties, and the gospel of hope in our Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Bible also shows us many examples of the wisdom of leading a God-centred life.
Ephesians Chapters Four and Five are two of these examples. Paul is writing to the Ephesians about how they are to live a life worthy of the calling they have received, as followers of Jesus (Ephesians 4:1-2). In these chapters, God shows us, through the Apostle Paul, how He wants us to live our lives, so that we may glorify Him in everything we do.
Live a Life Worthy of the Calling You Have Received from God
Ephesians Chapter Four begins by telling us to live a worthy life that measures up to the calling God has given you. In the Amplified Bible, this verse goes into deeper detail to say that we should live with Godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, mature behaviour and gratitude to God for your salvation.
Living a life of Godly character means following the example of Jesus and showing love, compassion and kindness to whoever you encounter. It also means standing up for what is right, living in faith and always living with integrity.
Ephesians 5:15-17
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
God’s will for us, as His children, is to live in His abundance of blessings, walking in righteousness and love, experiencing His joy and sharing His kindness and compassion with the people in our lives. Living in God’s wisdom and having a close relationship with Him, so we can discern what His will is, is how we live a life that is worthy of His calling. His will is for us to glorify Him through the lives we lead.
Gratitude to God through praise and worship, is one of the most beautiful things that we can do. Giving God praise is how we glorify Him in our lives, and it reminds us just how blessed we are to have a personal, loving relationship with the Creator of the universe. Thank God for His goodness, love and mercy and praise Him for rescuing and redeeming you.
Bear the Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:2-3 speaks about living with humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peace. These are all fruits of the Spirit, which are developed in us through the working of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants us to live in a way that we bear these good fruits every day, with whoever we meet. Ephesians 4:3 mentions making every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
The fruits of the Spirit enable us to live the way Jesus did. He had love and compassion with everyone He met. He was gentle and kind-hearted, with a heart for His followers. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us on the cross, in humility, and was always at peace with His Father’s will. When Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent down the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can bear good fruit, and follow the perfect example of the life of Jesus.
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
We are to be filled daily with the living waters of the Holy Spirit, so that we can walk closely with Him and be guided by His promptings. We shouldn’t lead lives of debauchery and impurity, instead we should be led by the Holy Spirit, so that we can bear the good fruit mentioned in Ephesians 4:2-3, even in the lost and confused world we find ourselves in.
Serve God and Others with Your Gifts and Talents
Ephesians 4:11-13
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
God himself has gifted you with talents and abilities that enable you to live out the purpose that He has for you. We are all gifted in different ways, and are called to use our gifts and talents to serve others, in Jesus’ name. The world likes to define one job, or talent, as more important than others, but every single one of us have been given an important part to play in God’s plan. He values all of His children, and all of our lives, and gifts, are equally as important, in the eyes of the Lord.
In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul mentions that Jesus has blessed us with the talents we have, so that we can all work together, as one body of Christ. We should steward our gifts well, and not waste them, because God uses us to serve Him, and His people, in ways that we can’t even imagine!
Ephesians 4:28 speaks about working hard, producing good things, so that we will have something to share with those in need. This is another reason why it’s so important to steward the gifts and talents that God has given you in a way that is productive, because it allows us to help and bless others, just as God helps and blesses us.
By serving others with our gifts, we build up the body of Christ and work together with God, to carry out the plan that He has for our lives. He has good plans for you, so partner with Him and let Him bless others through you!
Let Go of Strife and Love Like Jesus
Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Bitterness, rage, anger, and any form of strife or malice, are feelings that we all experience in our lives. People will hurt us and let us down many times in life, because humans are not perfect. It is so important for us to live the way that Jesus did – being kind and compassionate, forgiving each other and letting go of anger and resentment.
The devil uses bitterness, rage and anger, as well as any form of strife, as footholds into our lives. If he can keep us trapped in these feelings, and keep us in unforgiveness, we won’t be able to live out God’s will for our lives. God’s will is for us to forgive others, just as He has forgiven us through Christ. He wants us to love each other, and encourage one another in kindness and compassion.
Ephesians 4:26 tells us to not sin when we are angry, to not let the sun go down on our anger, and to not give the devil a foothold. This verse clearly shows the importance of letting go of anger, and living in love and forgiveness. God has so many amazing plans for your life, don’t let the enemy get in the way of those plans by allowing anger and bitterness to take root in your life.
We are called to be peace makers, as children of God; to speak in love and build each other up, and to be a blessing to one another. Let go of the strife in your life, and love those around you with the love that God has given you!
Be Imitators of God and Put Off Your Old Self
Ephesians 5:1-5
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
God is holy, pure, and full of love and light. He created us in His image, and He wants us to become more like Him as we mature as Christians. Living a holy life means that we have to make a choice between doing things the way of the world, or the way of the Lord. God’s way means to walk in love and forgiveness, leaving immoral and crude behaviour in the past, and giving God praise and glory for the life you have.
Ephesians 4:21-24 speaks about putting off your old self, by being continually renewed in your mind, and putting on the new self, because you have been created in God’s image. This means to let go of fleshly desires and the way that you used to live as a non-believer, and instead being transformed in the way you think and act, living in righteousness and holiness, through the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 5:8-9
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
Jesus has covered you and filled you with His light, so walk as a child of Light and spread His goodness, righteousness and truth everywhere you go!
Love Your Wife and Respect Your Husband for a Happy Christian Marriage
Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
As daughters of God, we are called to submit to our husbands, just as we submit to the Lord. This doesn’t mean that women should allow themselves to be disrespected or abused by their husbands, or that they can’t have a say in anything. Submitting yourself to your husband means to show him respect, as a son of God, and the head of your home. One of the most important things to a man is that he is treated with respect, but in today’s culture of women thinking they don’t need a man in their life, many men aren’t treated with the respect that God expects. Follow God’s example of what it means to be a good wife. Respect your husband, treat him kindly and speak to him in love, and God will bless your marriage with love and joy.
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Husbands are called to love their wives with such a deep and selfless love that it compares with how much Jesus loved the church, that He gave His life to save us. Men, when you love your wife, and treat her with kindness, it allows her to feel safe and secure enough that she can let down her walls and soften her actions. When she can trust you to put her first, and love her the way she needs, she can embrace her feminine side. She will treat you with respect, because she feels that you keep her safe, and love her deeply with the love of Jesus.
When a wife submits to her husband and shows him respect, and when a husband loves his wife so much that she feels safe and secure, a marriage will thrive! God created marriage to be a beautiful union of two becoming one, where love and respect create a safe space to encourage one another, support each other and build a life full of joy and peace together. My blog on How to Have a Happy Christian Marriage, goes into more detail about how to build a Godly, love-filled marriage.
The modern world is full of confusion, deception and darkness. People are lost and confused and things are moving at a pace that no one can keep up with. With everything so full of confusion, it’s difficult to know the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong.
People are living to please society, trying to keep up with the latest trends and leaving things like morals and kindness in the past. We live in a world that is full of self-gratification, self-promotion and wanting more and more. As children of God, we are called to live to a higher standard, in a way that glorifies Him.
Ephesians Chapters 4 and 5 give us the answers to living life as a Christian, even in the crazy times we find ourselves in right now. Stay connected to God and be filled by the waters of the Holy Spirit. Let the fruits of the Spirit develop in you, so that you live a life worthy of the calling God has given to you.
Be imitators of God, and live in the light of Jesus, sharing his love and kindness to the people around you. Serve others with your God-given gifts and talents, so that your life will glorify God. Treat your spouse with the love and kindness that God has shown you. Build your life, together with God, in a way that His love shines from you to everyone around you.
All of these things will lead to a life that is full of love, joy and peace, all guided by the mighty hand of the Lord. God has an amazing plan for your life, even when it feels like the world is falling apart around you.
Ephesians Chapter Six speaks about how to handle the struggles and trials of life, by putting on the full armour of God. This vital information goes hand-in-hand with everything that Ephesians Chapters four and five speak about. What is the Full Armour of God, and What is Each Piece Used For? I’ve written a blog that goes into more detail about this life-giving resource from God!
Even when struggles and hardships of life come, you can trust that, with the full armour of God, you can stand firm against the schemes of the enemy and live in victory! Focus on living life God’s way, and He will bless you with a life that is full of His love, peace , joy and light!
