Useful Bible Studies > Ephesians Commentary > chapter 5
Christians should be friendly - but they should not join in foolish conversation. They should also be joyful (Philippians 4:4) - but they should not make jokes about evil things. Christians should direct their thoughts to whatever is right and good (Philippians 4:8). In the same way, they should direct their conversation to whatever will benefit people in their relationship to God (4:29).
Instead of all those wrong subjects for conversation, Paul simply urges Christians to have a grateful attitude. They should constantly give God thanks (5:20). With that attitude, they will always have enough subjects for conversation; and every conversation will be good and useful.
So, a grateful Christian can talk about the good things that God has done for him, or for other people. He can tell about the friends, family, job or church that God has given to him. He can discuss his work for God, or God’s work in his life. He can describe the events by which Christ brought him into a right relationship with God (2 Corinthians 5:17). That Christian can even speak about his present troubles with a grateful heart (attitude), because God is working powerfully in that situation (Romans 8:28).
A grateful Christian is eager to talk about the things that God has taught him. He likes to speak about everything in the Bible - but especially about Christ’s death, because Christ died for him (Romans 5:8). He speaks with the greatest joy about the home that God has promised him, in heaven (John 14:1-3) and the New Jerusalem (Revelation chapters 21 and 22). Every day gives him new reasons to be grateful to God (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Next part: God is the judge of every evil act (Ephesians 5:5)
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© 2019, Keith Simons.