Ephesian 5:18-21  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Eat, drink, and be merry… That’s the advice of the world. Many a day is spent getting drunk and having a “good time.” But often those good times lead to sin and immoral behavior. Paul has been instructing the believers in Ephesus to refrain from such behavior and impressed on them that getting drunk leads to this kind of immorality.

Rather than simply saying what not to do, he offers the alternative, “be filled with the Spirit.” And instead of karaoke and partying, we should share palms, hymns, and spiritual songs with one another unto the Lord, giving thanks always for everything in submission to one another out of reference for Christ.

Walking in Christ is so fulfilling when our heart is in tune to others. When we are sober minded and others minded we are able to live fully submitted to one another. Rather than looking to have our desires met, we look to fill the desire of others out of our reference for Christ.

I heard a story recently about the Moravian missionaries in the 1700’s who sold themselves into slavery so they could reach the African slaves on the Caribbean Islands. As they were departing on the ship they cried out to loved ones, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!”

Submitting to others, addressing one another with spiritual songs, and giving thanks for everything takes more than simply naming oneself a Christian. It requires a realization that we have been purchased by the blood of Christ and our life is to serve and honor Christ by the way we relate to and love others.