Thankful
Day 270: Ephesians 5:1-20
“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
We love being around thankful people, and it is no secret that they are rare in our world today. What is more likely is for us to meet someone who is trying to convince us they've accomplished so much via their solo act. It is then no shock to us 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 that thankfulness, praise, and hymns were foundational to consistently stepping into the light.
Picture a baptism service where the baptizer says as they lower the person down into the water: "Awake, O sleeper!" Then as they bring them up: "rise up from the dead." And then as they declare afterward: "Christ will shine on you."
Chills, right?
This kind of experience is where thankfulness and songs pour forth with fluidity.
Get close to Jesus. Watch the thankfulness follow.