Something to Substitute

Ephesians 5:3-4 ESV
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

One very important thought in scripture is to substitute an old thing with a new thing. This could be a behavior, an attitude or a behavior, but the principle is that if you take something out of your life you will need to fill that void. A common example would be someone giving up smoking. How many people have you known, maybe even yourself, which have substituted smoking with chewing gum, sucking on a lollipop or even just eating more?

Jesus knew this. He taught about it in Luke 11:24-26. In this instance He spoke about when an unclean spirit leaves a person that when it comes back it brings unclean spirits with it more evil than itself. Ephesians 4:20-24 talks about putting off your old self and putting on the new man (substitution). And Col 3:5-11 also talks about putting off the old man and its worldly desires and putting on the new man made alive through Christ.

And finally we have this passage today which tells us to put away perverseness in actions, speech and humor and to replace it with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving must be a pretty powerful action. Look and listen to the world around you which is flooded with sexuality and innuendos. Dirty jokes and sexual conquests are applauded. Pornography can now be pumped into every house in America. How do we keep separate from a world that wants to suck us in? By being thankful. Thankful to our God and Creator – the King of the Universe that He adopted us as his heirs (John 1:12-13). Thankful to our Savior and Lord, Jesus, who while we were enemies to God still gave His life at Calvary that we could have the chance to be adopted. Thankful to the Holy Spirit who has made His home in us and directs us in understanding God's word and interprets every groaning in our hearts and takes them as prayers to God the Father. Thankful that we don't have to worship in fear of being put in jail. Thankful that we can have Bibles in our homes. Thankful that we are forgiven. Thankful that we may used by God every day and every moment if we surrender our agendas to Him. Just be thankful and keep this world from corrupting something incredibly special to the Lord – you.