Thankfulness as a Weapon

 Today’s reading: Ephesians 5

“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving...giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians‬ ‭5:4, 20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It is wild that, from Paul’s perspective, the best way to combat the darkness in our lives and our churches is thankfulness from our mouths.

In between the verses above, we also see the exciting quotation in verse 14: “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

F.F. Bruce has an interesting note on this verse:

“The wording may well be that of a primitive Christian baptismal hymn (cf. the early description of baptism as φωτισμός, “enlightenment”); the very rhythm of the three stichoi is of a type associated in the Greek memory with religious initiation.”

Again, we see here that thankfulness and praise and hymns were foundational to consistently stepping into the light.

Choose to sing today, thankfully!