Walk This Way
Love, Light, and Wisdom
In Ephesians chapter 5, Paul is encourages followers of Jesus to center the rhythms of their lives on God instead of the culture around them. He uses the Greek word “paripateo” is used three times in the chapter—instructing us to:
Walk in love (v. 2)
Walk as children of light (v. 8)
Walk carefully and wisely (v. 15)
DAILY PATTERNS
English Bibles typically translate this word as “walk.” Of course, Paul didn’t literally mean use your legs to tiptoe around in a loving manner.
Paripateo is an idiom or expression that means “the regular pattern of one’s life.”
God’s Word is saying if you want to become more like Jesus–make sure the regular patterns of your life revolve around love, light, and wisdom.
Jesus is love made flesh. (1 John 4:16) Generous with his time and attention. Never showing favoritism. Tender with the broken but confrontational to the self-righteous. Welcoming, kind, and humble. Self-sacrificial to the point of death.
Jesus is light made flesh. (John 8:12) He is all that is good and right and true.
Jesus is wisdom made flesh. (1 Cor 1:30) He made the best use of every minute of time.
The question for followers of Jesus becomes: how can we pattern the daily routines of our lives around love, light, and wisdom?
REFLECTION
Relationships (love), worship (light), and time management (wisdom) are three critical places we can begin to imitate the patterns of Jesus.
What is one daily routine you can prayerfully commit to habit in each of the three categories?