Ephesians Week 6

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 Ephesians 5   5  1  Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children   2  and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3  But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.   4  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.   5  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [ a ]   6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.   7  Therefore do not be partners with them. 8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light i...
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Carving us to look like Jeus...

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I learned fairly early that God creating us to look like Jesus is often painful.    I had a lot of lies to undo..and time takes TIME.    Fairly early in my Christian walk, I acted like a spiritual 2 year old, I was often so hurt by the hurt God allowed that I didn’t want to talk to Him, I would pout... but where did that really leave me? On my own,  I had no truth, no real truth apart from God.....that can take away the despair.  Anyone can mask pain with over eating, over drinking, over spending, over sleeping, etc. There is no lasting comfort apart from God. I had to remember the truth… God required such intense suffering of His own perfect son..whom He loved... to accomplish a holy purpose,  and He had a purpose for me in the pain he allowed in my life... Of course the Bible tells what that purpose  is.... to make us look like Christ.

Look at this. A carver created a duck out of a block of wood.  How did he do that?  The carver said,  "It is easy...I just took off everything  that didn't look like a duck".    That is what God is doing with us. He is taking everything off of us that doesn't look like Jesus. It is painful and ...it is scary, but it is less scary when we truly believe we have a Loving Father..holding our hand in the dark and ........when we believe it  really isn't darkness to Him.

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