Our theme for this month: “Being a virtuous person”
Our Bible verse for today: “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.” Ephesians 5:3 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Make room in your life for the good things God wants to give you.”
One of the helpful features of “The Every Man’s Study Bible” is that the editors included lots of sidebars which offer additional insights designed to help men become the person God wants them to be. Referring to Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 5:3-20 the editors wrote:
“Ever since God gave the Ten Commandments, some have been tempted to think he enjoys making people miserable and taking away their happiness by denying them earthly pleasures. The truth is, God wants to give us something much better. But in order for us to receive it, we need to clear some room in our lives. Often, that means getting rid of sins or bad habits that are using up the space God wants to claim.”
What an interesting thought – God wants to fill our lives with good things, but in order for Him to do so we have to make room to receive those good things by clearing out the bad things that are currently filling up that space.
I once heard a speaker at a conference tell about his life before Christ. It was one of drugs and drunkenness and sexual immorality. He said, “I had to give up so much when I became a Christian! I had to give up an addiction to drugs; I had to give up my habit of being gutter-crawling drunk every night and waking up the next day with a terrible hangover; I had to give up the constant threat of contracting a sexually transmitted disease; I had to give up being angry and miserable all the time and not even knowing why. I had to give up so much when I became a Christian!”
And he went on, “But in exchange for what I gave up, God gave me so much in return! He filled that same space in my life with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Yes, I gave up a lot. But I gained so much more!”
Are you ready to make room in your life for the good things God wants to give you? It’s your choice. You can allow your life to be filled with sinful things that hurt you and keep you miserable, or you can clear those things out and make room for the great things God wants to fill you up with.
It seems to me that’s really kind of a no-brainer.
Oak Hill Baptist Church