Making Light of Sin

Ephesians 5:1-4 – Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

In our society today, we are bombarded with fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, jesting, and foolish talk. We don’t have to look any further than television, music, and our surrounding environment to find these in abundance. As Paul told the church in Ephesus, these things were not to be named even once among them. Sadly however, it is these very things that have become sources of conduct and entertainment in our own lives. .

We’ve become accustomed to sin.

1. We’ve become accustomed to sin. When we become accustomed to sin, we’re no longer convicted of their destructive ways or driven to pray when we see sinful acts committed. We become desensitized to the sting of sin where our response becomes the same as the world’s; we speak as the world speaks; live as world lives; and think as world thinks. We no longer forgive, show mercy, or love others. The very things the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:16-19, 8:13), we’ve accepted as a lifestyle of ‘enjoyable’ entertainment and living.

2. Inventory your life. If you were to conduct an inventory of the areas listed above, you may find that you have made light of sin. You may find that the things God command us in scripture, are but fleeting thoughts against the backdrop of sin and worldly living.

3. Where we go from here.

As Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, we too must become followers of God as dear children. If you were to play follow the leader with God, where would He lead you? Where would He NOT lead you?

As followers of God, we follow Him wherever He desires us to go. This desire is not only in selecting a church or ministry, but in every area of thinking, speaking, going, and coming – EVERY area of our lives.

As followers of God, as dear children, we reflect the nature of a child. Children are quick to forgive, trust, love, share, depend on, and follow without asking questions. Children will go wherever they are asked without the slightest bit of concern. They are just happy to be with someone that loves them (or shows them attention).

1 John 4:7-11 – Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Give thanks. As we move beyond those things that should not be once named among us or that are not convenient, we should give thanks. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica to give thanks in everything for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning them (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Where we are right now (position, location, nationality, etc.) are by the Lord’s design for us to give thanks. We are to give thanks because He has created us to be in a specific position, in a specific job, at a specific location and time to accomplish a specific purpose for His will.

Photo courtesy of Stock.XCHNG.com/Penny Mathews