Ephesians 5
Rebecca Lightfoot
Paul’s personal experiences with Jesus and HIS Holy Spirit had shaken Paul’s world to the core...the core of not only who he is,but even more in how he lives/the “why’s” about his life->the questions we ask ourselves every day that shape how we think & how we live,sometimes without us being aware of how powerful the questions are that we ask ourselves!Paul has learned this lesson over many years of walking with The Lord...and the many years of preparation before he even made his first “public appearance”! A big part of the change in Paul’s life is indicated n Ephesians5:8-11,”For you were once darkness,but now you are light in The Lord.Live as children of light...AND FIND OUT (I made bold for EMPHASIS) what pleases The Lord.Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,but rather expose them.”Part of what Paul is saying here is that when we become children of God/the light,that our “life questions” should have a paradigm shift from questions about how to please ourselves and/or the worlds templates...to questions relative to what pleases God(Eph5:10,”and find out what pleases the Lord.”->seek the answers to questions relative to “what pleases the Lord”). Whether we acknowledge it or not,the questions we ask of ourselves will impact not only how we think,but more importantly what we become.If the “hinge questions” we ask ourselves are not related to “what pleases the Lord”,then Paul would say that we are not becoming more like children of God,but instead becoming children NOT like children of God.So these verses are encouraging those of us who desire to be children of God...,to have “what pleases the Lord” as the foundation of all we seek to understand, guide, & shape our life.God has proven His Fatherly Awesome/Unselfish/Sacrificial Love for us...HE has proven His Trustworthiness and the Trustworthiness of His Word throughout all history...and He has been Transparent & Forthcoming with HIS Eternal Promises for His children that are all GOOD.He has given us every reason to sincerely desire to know what would please Him!And He has given us His Word and His Spirit to help us and guide us to the “right questions”,even when we sometimes ask the wrong questions(Romans8:28”And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love the Lord, who have been called according to His purpose”).Dear Jesus,I have not appreciated the critical importance of the questions that roll around inside my head & heart.Thank You for making me aware of this! Help me to be increasingly aware of what is prompting these questions,and may Your Word and Your Spirit become more and more what shape the foundation of the Life questions I seek to find answers for...so I may become more like Your child.