Ephesians 5:5 is a sobering warning to those who are immoral, impure, greedy or idol worshippers. You might not think that you worship idols, but an idol can be anything that takes up more time and attention than Jesus (apart from your work or studies). Another definition of an idol is ANYTHING that takes the place of God in our hearts and draws our attention away from Him. For example, money, possessions, reputation, celebrities, success, social media presence, TikTok, Instagram, fitness, etc. It's easy to be materialistic when you live in the western world and are constantly bombarded by advertisements telling you that you need the latest... [insert gadget, fashion, trend here]. Society tells us that we can't be happy until we have these things, but in reality any happiness gained from getting what you want is short lived.
Here are some other Bible verses about idolatry: Jonah 2:8 Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. Exodus 20:3-5 Do not worship any god except me. Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the Lord your God, and I demand all your love. Matthew 6:24 You cannot serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one and love the other, or you will be loyal to one and not care about the other. You cannot serve God and Money at the same time. Are you greedy? Are there things that you want more than God? Next time you find yourself desperately wanting something, remember you just need Jesus.
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Confession breaks the power of secret sin. If you talk to someone about it, you are less likely to continue doing it. You don't have to confess to a priest, but it is recommended that you find a trustworthy, mature Christian. If you have sinned against someone, you should also confess to them and ask for their forgiveness.
Ephesians 5:4 says, Dirty stories, foul talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. I don't know about you but I seem to be bombarded by foul language wherever I go - work, the shopping centre, the park... Many TV shows and songs are full of foul language and crude jokes too. While I can't just not go to work to avoid the bad language, I can be careful about what I watch on TV and the music I choose to listen to.
When you're surrounded by this kind of behaviour and language, you sometimes find that it rubs off on you. Romans 12:2 says, Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. God changes us through his Holy Spirit that lives in us, through reading, studying, and memorising the Bible, through prayer, and through spending time with other Christians. Sometimes Church seems irrelevant or boring but the Apostle Paul encouraged Christians not to give up meeting together. Why is it important? If we spend all our time in the world, we absorb the values and attitudes of the world. We need to spend time with other Christians so that we absorb the values and attitudes of Jesus. We meet together to:
Hear teaching about God's Word Praise together Pray together Build relationships with other people who love Jesus Encourage each other. Going to church on Sunday isn't the only way to enjoy fellowship. You could join a Youth Group or Bible Study group. There might be a group of Christians that meets at your high school or university. You might be part of a small accountability group with some other Christians or meet with a Christian mentor. These are all ways you can experience fellowship. |
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