On Tuesday night, our college bible study meets, and we have been studying the book of Ephesians together. The passage we were studying was Ephesians 5:1-21. We were discussing the implications to our lives of being imitators of Christ, and specifically, we were trying to understand how we ought to be living as those who are filled with the Holy Spirit.
“18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (NIV)
In verse 18, we find an imperative “Be filled with the Spirit” and this is in contrast to the way that people fill themselves with wine and get drunk. So, being filled with the Spirit does not look like someone who fills themselves with wine, but instead looks like the following:
1. Speaking to one another with Psalms, hymns, and songs
2. Singing and Making songs from your heart to the Lord
3. Giving thanks to God the Father for everything
4. Submitting to one another out of a reverence for Christ
When we were faced with these truths, we were challenged by the fact of how little we do this in a daily, practical way to the Lord or to one another. Speaking psalms and singing songs, especially, were actions we saw ourselves only doing on Sunday, instead of throughout the week.
So, in order to apply what the Lord was encouraging us to do last night, below is a devotional poem (this has been a song of my heart recently) that I pray the Lord would use to encourage you.
In so many times
In so many ways
You have revealed
Your power to save
Joseph nearly died
By his brothers’ hate
You had better plans
Your hand proved great
Ruthlessly worked
In Egypt they died
You heard their groans
You answered their cries
Driving them out
By your mighty hand
You split the waters
You showed dry land!
In thunder and light
In thick cloud covered
You spoke your Law
Your people shuddered
You gave them land
Abundant provision
Your holy nation
Your perfect vision
But they worshipped
These lifeless idols
You even told them
Yahweh your title
Wanting a king
Against your word
You gave them one
Your holy wrath stirred
Choosing David
A plan so smart
You ignored looks
You noticed his heart
Facing a giant
Wielding a blade
You blessed David
Your power unswayed
Building a house
For Your own Name
You built his throne
Your Kingdom proclaimed
But David died
And Solomon too
Your Prince to reign
Isaiah knew
The world waiting
As nations fell
You even brought low
Your Israel
For years and years
The prophets told
Your plan of plans
Genesis old
That was THOSE days
TODAY has come
God has revealed
His Promised Son
Radiant rays
Glorious glory
The Son ties up
All HIS-tory
Exact likeness
Sustaining all
Which of the angels
Did God ever call?
“You are my Son”
The King of Kings
The one to whom
All creation sings
Conquering sin
Freeing all debtors
Those whose hearts’ cry
“Jesus is better!”
God’s right hand seated
A Superior Name
The Earth will perish
His Kingdom remains
Served by angels
He made Himself low
Suffering death
His glory to show
Commanding now
Off with fetters!
Those being tempted
Jesus is better
Jesus made like
Us in every way
To be our High-
Priest whom we pray
On our hearts now
He writes His letter
“Redeemed Brother”
Jesus is better
Jesus is now
Served by many hosts
LORD of all Heaven
Your Name we boast
Moses was a
Great faith setter
But servant vs. SON
Jesus is better
Joshua led
The people to rest
But even the land
Made them distressed
The Son of God
Fix your eyes, See!
Approach Him and
Find mercy you need
He is our Hope
Faithful High Priest
Giving grace to all
Even the least
So run to Him
Continue the race
That great reward
Of seeing His Face
There remains still
A better rest
Filling your soul
JESUS IS BEST.
