Ephesians 5:1-20

You are God’s children whom he loves. So try to be like God. Live a life of love. Love other people just as Christ loved us. Christ gave himself for us—he was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God. But there must be no sexual immorality among you. There must not be any kind of evil or greed. Those things are not right for God’s holy people. Also, there must be no evil talk among you. You must not speak foolishly or tell evil jokes. These things are not right for you. But you should be giving thanks to God. You can be sure of this: No one will have a place in the kingdom of Christ and of God who engages in sexual sin, or does evil things, or is greedy. Anyone who is greedy is serving a false god. Do not let anyone fool you by telling you things that are not true. These things will bring God’s anger on those who do not obey him. So have no part with them. In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light. Light brings every kind of goodness, right living, and truth. Try to learn what pleases the Lord. Do not do the things that people in darkness do. That brings nothing good. But do good things to show that the things done in darkness are wrong. It is shameful even to talk about what those people do in secret. But the light makes all things easy to see. And everything that is made easy to see can become light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper! Rise from death, and Christ will shine on you.” So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise. Live wisely. I mean that you should use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times. So do not be foolish with your lives. But learn what the Lord wants you to do. Do not be drunk with wine. That will ruin you spiritually. But be filled with the Spirit. Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord. Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.