IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Follow God's Example

Date: Nov. 29, 2020

Passage

Ephesians 5:1-14

Walk in Love

5:1 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.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Ephesians 5:1

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

1. Walk in love (1,2)

In the previous chapter, Paul urged believers to keep unity and to live in holiness. To do so, they need to follow God's example described in chapters 1-3 and walk in love. Christ followed God's example by loving sinners and dying on behalf of them who had no love for him. His love and sacrifice became a fragrant aroma to God. In the same way, as followers of God's example, we must be willing to demonstrate sacrificial love for others that is a fragrant offering to God. Love, to be real before God, must cost.

2. Live as children of light (3-14)

In the lives of God's people, there should be no place for evil practices such as immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking that invite God's wrath. We are changed people who are no longer darkness, but light in the Lord. So instead of backsliding into darkness, we should live as children of light who seek for the fruit of the light such as goodness, righteousness and truth, and for what please the Lord. God created everything to bear fruit and our life-fruit will be determined by how we live.

Prayer: Lord, help us walk in love by following Jesus' example and to live for the fruit of the light.

One Word: Just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us

Daily Bread

God Stills the Conflict

Psalm 76:1-12

Key Verse: 76:6

At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both rider and horse lay stunned.

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