What’s Pleasing

Today’s reading (Ephesians 5) is kind of intimidating as we’re commanded to live a life of love, and to not allow even a hint of sin in our life (whether it be sexual, financial, verbal, drunkeness, relational). And we’re warned that God’s wrath is coming because of our acts of disobedience. And I know that I am not fully living a life of love, and that there are hints of sin in my life, and so all of this leaves me feeling like, “Oh crap, I just got busted.”

And that’s true, but there’s another side to this. I love verse 10, “and find out what pleases the Lord.” See it’s not just about fearing the consequences of our sin (though we should), it’s also about loving God so much we don’t want to sin. It’s about being in this love relationship with God, where we’re trying to figure out, like behind His back, what He likes, so we can do more of that in hopes that it might put a smile on His face. And in light of how amazing God is, and what He’s done for us, that’s the least we can do…