The month of May always reminds me of a fun game I played when I was younger called, “Mother, May I?” Have you ever played it, Superkid?
It’s a game where someone (acting as the Mother) gives an instruction, like “Take three giant steps forward!” or “Hop two times!” The catch is, before you obey the instruction you have to say, “Mother, may I?” If you forget to say those words, then you go back to the starting line!
The first person to reach “Mother” wins.
It’s a really fun game, especially when you get to be the one giving the directions! Have you ever had the chance to be “Mother,” and tell others what to do? You should try it sometime!
Now, you’re probably wondering, What does this game have to do with our study through Ephesians? Let me explain!
Our Journey to God
The goal in “Mother, May I?” is to reach “Mother” by following her instructions. If you forget to ask, you have to start over. This sounds like how many people believe a relationship with God works. They try their best to follow God’s instructions. If they mess up, they feel they must start all over again. When they fall short, they might feel discouraged and hopeless.
Has that ever happened to you? I think it happens to everyone at some point! But here’s the good news: Ephesians 4 reminds us that God’s grace isn’t about starting over every time we make a mistake. We don’t have to keep asking, “Father, may I?” when we mess up. As we’ve already learned, we are one with Jesus, and He gives us the power to live the way He lives.
Evidence vs. Qualification: A New Way of Living
One day, while reading Ephesians 4, I thought, This sounds like a checklist of behaviors. But then God spoke to my heart and said, This is a checklist for evidence, not qualification. What does that mean? Well, Ephesians 4 isn’t just a list of things to do to be a “good Christian.” It’s about the evidence of God’s presence in our lives. These behaviors prove that Jesus is living inside us and flowing out of us. We don’t have to perform tasks to qualify for His love; His love coming out of us proves that we are His children.
In Ephesians 4:24, we read: “Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you”(The Message). This means that God doesn’t just want us to act like Jesus. He wants us to become more like Him from the inside out. The Christlike behaviors we read about aren’t rules to follow—they’re the evidence of God’s work inside us!
Let’s break this down, starting with verses 25-27, to see how God’s character actually comes out of us.
Verse 25 says: “Therefore, rejecting all falsity… let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another” (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).
Christlike Character: Jesus is the Truth, and He always speaks honestly.
Evidence: When we speak the truth, we are showing that Jesus lives in us. Our words reflect His love and honesty, not just our own effort to be truthful.
Christ In You: Instead of struggling to avoid lies, we become truth-tellers. His love in us helps us love others the way Jesus loves.
Managing Anger With Love and Forgiveness
Verses 26-27 say: “When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath…last until the sun goes down. Leave no…foothold for the devil.”
Christlike Character: Jesus was slow to anger and quick to forgive.
Evidence: As we live in God’s grace, we handle our anger with patience and forgiveness. We don’t let anger control us, but instead, we let it go before the day ends.
Christ In You: His love empowers us to forgive others quickly, just as He forgives us. Instead of holding on to anger, we can choose peace and reconciliation.
Now It’s Your Turn Superkid
Verse 28: “Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need.”
Look up the word industrious. How does “Be Industrious” compare to “Don’t Steal”? What does Jesus want?
Before we go, let’s circle back to “Mother, May I?” In that game, you have to ask for permission to take each step forward, remember? But here’s the truth: We don’t need to keep asking, “Father, may I?” Jesus has already made a way for us to be one with Him. We don’t have to keep asking if we’re “good enough” to move forward because His grace has already qualified us.
When we mess up, we don’t have to “start over.” We can immediately turn to God and receive His forgiveness. We’ve been given full permission to live as He lives and love as He loves, because He is living in us.
So, the next time you face a challenge, remember: You have His full permission to move forward, no matter what. He’s not waiting for you to mess up so He can send you back to the starting line. He’s with you every step of the way.
Commander Kellie ♥