“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.” Ephesians 5:8-10 ESV
Reflection: what is pleasing to the Lord?
Through many years of marriage, I have learned that there are some things my wife likes, and even really appreciates. Most things she doesn’t have to remind me of; I already know. Might be a small things like going for a walk with her, or driving her to an appointment. How we prepare the house and food together for having guests over. Or me taking care of all the details for a travel. Regardless, small or large, these things become important to me, to show her that I love her. I don’t have to, but I want to. I don’t do it to receive anything back, it is purely out of love. If I ignored her, only focused on my own wants and needs, what would that say about my love for my wife?
Paul wrote to the Ephesians “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:10 ESV, which in a way seems very similar to what we try to do living with a spouse, or even in the interaction with family and close friends. We try to figure out what they like and don’t like, what is pleasing to them. But how do we do that with God? Paul starts out this chapter saying “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”, and then later “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.” Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-10 ESV
Ok, we already have a lot of indicators here of what is pleasing to God, starting with being “imitators” of God. We are His children, right? So it only makes sense that we want to be and act like our Everlasting Father. You might remember that the disciples tried to figure this out, “Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:8-9 ESV. We can know the Father by looking at Jesus. Therefore, Paul goes on describing what it means to imitate God, by saying “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2 ESV
And just like we try to do what we know is pleasing to a spouse or someone we care about, we also don’t do what we know they don’t like. Paul says “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; 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.”” Ephesians 5:5-7, 11-14 ESV
So we do have a lot of details already of what pleases God, and what is displeasing to Him just by studying the Bible. Paul summarizes by saying “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.” Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV. We have also been given the Holy Spirit, our Helper, to guide us and He will convict us when we are off track. So let’s study, listen, and walk today, not as the unwise, but as wise children of light.