6 May ESOCS Devotional
TEXT: EPHESIANS 5:1-6
MEMORY VERSE
“Since you are God’s children, you must try to be like Him.” Ephesians 5:1
The true identity of a military officer is not only in his uniform but more in the manifestation of the military tactics, courage and ethics that soldiers are known for when duty calls. Therefore, it is with the Christian faith. Our true identity is in the fruit of the Spirit of God that we manifest; not only in the name of the Church we attend or what we tell people about ourselves. In this part of Paul’s letter to the Church in Ephesus, he emphasized the necessity that the attitudes, characteristics, and attributes of Christhood be in every Christian.
The first thing that we must understand is that when we were converted to Christ, we received the power of God that is in Christ. The same power that enabled Christ to live by the will of God is what He gave to us. If any of us does not find this ability in Him, such person must pause and pray for it(John 1:12; Acts 1:8). This was the reason in verse 1 of our text Paul said, “Since you are God’s dear children, you must try to be like Him.”
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Jesus Christ gave all for our sake. He gave the very thing God needed for our salvation, His life that God needed; and He gave it not minding that He would suffer pains and eventual death. God has put such character in every believer. We should manifest it in our relationship with people. If you lack it, then you must pause and pray for it now. In verse 2 of our text, the Bible says, “Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that please God.” When you find a Christian blatantly involved in well-known sinful conducts, he is a hypocrite. Hypocrites do not live by the ethics of their calling. In verse 3 of our text, it is written, “Since you are God’s people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency, or greed should even be mentioned among you.”
The reason God gave us the Holy Spirit is to purge us of all sinful acts and filthiness. Systematically, the Holy Spirit uproots all evil roots in our lives. It therefore depends on us to be determined and submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Whenever our faults are exposed through the operation of the Holy Spirit by sermons, prophesy, counseling, correction, and others we should accept it and confess them. We receive forgiveness through such penitence, and we are prepared for the kingdom of God. We cannot enter into the kingdom of God unclean. In verse 5 of our text, the Bible says, “You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy(for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the kingdom of Christ and of God”(verse 6).
Being truly converted to Christ is not a matter of assumption uncertainty. It is clear and evident. You do not only find in yourself the ability to do the will of God, you feel the Spirit and Power of God in you, and witness its manifestations.
CHALLENGES
√ Are you truly converted to Christ?
6 May ESOCS Devotional – PRAYER POINT
√ Father God Almighty, I reaffirm my faith in Jesus Christ and ask that you fill me with the power of the Holy Ghost repeatedly in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
FURTHER READING
√ Judges 21:1-25; Galatians 5:14-26
