On Sunday morning, the sermon was preached from Ephesians 5 and 6. It's a challenging passage, about the way to live in family and working relationships. It calls us to live in the light of the gospel, to live in a way which is transformed by the reality of Christ's death and resurrection.
As is often the case with these sorts of passages, there was a big part of me that wanted to respond: you don't know! You don't know what it's like for me, Paul! You have no idea! This would be said in much the same tone of voice as is used in this video, which if you have kids is hilarious. If you don't have kids, you don't know.
But the point is, Paul doesn't need to know my exact situation. He doesn't need to have gone through the exact situations I am facing (which, incidentally, are not particularly hard anyway). He is not offering that sort of 'been there, done that' advice, as helpful as that can sometimes be. He is applying the gospel, which is true here and now for me as it was there and then for him.
Enough excuses. Jesus died and rose. Live like it.
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