Title: God's Greatest Masterpiece
God's greatest masterpiece
Ephesians 5:1-7
<Living like a saint>
How should a saint live like a saint?
First, act with love. When a person forgives, the most God-like image appears (verse 1). Forgiveness comes from love. Forgiveness and love are one. True love is a life that gives up self and offers it as a sacrifice to God (verse 2). There is no love without sacrifice in this world.
Second, avoid fornication. Don't even think of dirty fornication, and don't even joke about wrong sexuality (v. 3). Of course, sex itself isn't bad. God created sexuality for love, joy, and prosperity. However, excessive sexual desires that deviate from the line always lead to disastrous results.
Third, speak wisely. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to abstain from ugly, foolish, and mocking speech, but to give thanks a lot (verse 4). The importance of words in living a saintly life cannot be overemphasized. Words are a sign of character and a sign of saintliness.
Fourth, stay away from idolatry. Covetousness and idolatry are one thing (v. 5). God regards idolatry as the most disobedience to God and sends His wrath on those who fall into idolatry (v. 6). What makes people most unhappy is idolatry (Exodus 20:4-5). Idolatry is the abandonment of one's noble values, created as God's masterpieces.
< Live like a masterpiece of God >
The biggest reason that believers cannot live like saints is that they are deceived by Satan's lies and deceived by their own feelings. When you sin, you quickly say, “I am an ugly sinner! I feel wrong!” If you tolerate such a feeling, Satan will come to you and judge you based on 'deeds and merits' rather than 'identities or relationships' and bite your soul without mercy. Therefore, do not fall for Satan's condemnation, and always ask, "Who am I? I am a masterpiece of God, no matter what anyone says!” Be firm in your identity.
Don't focus on your shortcomings, but focus on the glorious status of being a child of God. Don't go back to the old larval state. Those who are saved are saints. The word saint means saint. If you think to yourself, “How am I a saint?”, don't judge yourself by your thoughts and actions. Then you will end up in a constant pit. Judge yourself according to what the Bible says. Then your mind and actions will change. Although he looks like a beggar now, the saints are more album-bearers than anyone else in a deep sense.
In the 1930s, during the Great Depression in the United States, there was a farmer named Yeins in Texas. He made a living by running a farm, but the economic crisis reached the point where he had to hand over the farm as well. Just then, an oil expedition discovered an enormous deposit of oil beneath his farm. And with the oil spill, he quickly became a billionaire. But he was actually a billionaire from the time he already owned the land. I just didn't know I was a billionaire.
A rich man lives like a beggar but is rich, and a prince lives like a beggar but is a prince. A saint is a child of God, a bride of the Lord, and a holy saint, no matter how many faults they lack. In any case, do not demean yourself by falling into the accusations of Satan mocking you. Constantly confess to yourself, “I am God’s greatest masterpiece!” Then God's riches will become our riches, and when we have such spiritual rights, human rights and property rights will follow.