Have you adopted a life verse, a verse that you’ve found speaks truth to you in many life situations? If you don’t yet have a life verse, I’d like to introduce you to a possibility. If you do have a life verse, you might want to consider a second one. You can have more than one life verse. The passage I’d like to introduce to you is Ephesians 5:1-2, a passage that speaks for itself. So, let’s let it do just that.”Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:1-2).The What
This verse is made up of five or six (depending on translation) power-packed phrases. Meditate on this passage for a while. Read it a couple more times. Find the different phrases. Then let the passage settle into your heart by thoughtfully responding to the questions below. You may want to type your responses into an e-doc or write them in a journal:
1. Which phrase speaks to you the loudest?
2. A couple phrases are instructions. Which instruction do you find most convicting?
3. Which phrase gives you the most encouragement?
4. A couple phrases talk about Jesus. Which of these phrases packs the most wow for you?The So What
Now do this. Adopt a phrase a day for the next few days. Make each phrase your theme for the day and seek to apply it to as many situations as possible.
Let’s do a phrase as an example: Walk in the way of love. That is a poetic and poignant instruction. How does it look to do what this instruction says? Below you’ll find a variety of situations you may bump into in the course of a day. How does it look to walk in the way of love in each of these situations? Write down one or two specific actions you can take to “walk in the way of love” in these scenarios.
• Honoring your parents.
• Sharing with your siblings.
• Helping a friend who is hurting.
• Guarding against temptation.
• Ministering to someone who is sick.
• Interacting with a teacher or coach (or other person in authority such as a play director or band conductor) who you think has treated you unfairly.
• Overcoming anger or frustration.
Putting into Practice
As you live Ephesians 5:1-2 phrase-by-phrase for a week, you may find yourself wanting to live the passage phrase-by-phrase for life. Of course, that’s how God’s Word works. Every verse in the Bible is a potential life verse, a nugget of truth that helps us navigate all that life throws our way.
