January 24 2026

Saturday January 24

Walk In Harmony

Ephesians 5:18-21

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Today we come to the final section of Ephesians 5, verses 18 through 33. Up to this point, Paul has been urging believers to walk in purity—to live differently from the world because we belong to Christ. Now, beginning in verse 18, Paul moves into a new emphasis that we might call “Walk in Harmony.” Here he deals with the relationships of everyday life and shows us how life in Christ can truly bring heaven into the home.

When homes are ruled according to God’s Word, we can experience heaven on earth. This is a beautiful picture—but sadly, it is not always reality. Many homes today, even homes of professing Christians, are not governed by God’s Word. The results are heartbreaking. Marriages crumble, families fracture, and peace is replaced by tension and sorrow. The poet William Cowper called the home “the only bliss of Paradise that has survived the Fall.” Yet too often, homes feel more like outposts of conflict than parcels of paradise. Instead of being “heaven” on earth they can become “hell” on earth. So what is the answer? Paul tells us plainly: the Holy Spirit of God.

Paul begins this section with a command: “Be filled with the Spirit.” This command is for every believer, not just a select few. It is written in the present tense, meaning “keep on being filled,” reminding us that this is not a one-time experience, but a daily, ongoing relationship with the Spirit. And it is passive—we do not fill ourselves. We yield ourselves so that the Spirit may fill us. To be filled with the Spirit does not mean receiving more of the Spirit, but allowing the Spirit to have more of us. In Scripture, to be “filled” means to be controlled by. Just as people can be filled with anger or envy—meaning controlled by those emotions—being filled with the Spirit means that He controls our minds, our emotions, and our wills, all which determine our actions.

When a person trusts Christ, he is immediately baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ. That is a once-for-all experience that happens at salvation. But the filling of the Spirit is different. It is repeated, ongoing, and necessary for daily living. The baptism of the Spirit means I belong to Christ’s body. The filling of the Spirit means my body belongs to Christ. We often think of the Spirit’s power as something we need only for preaching or witnessing—and that is true—but Paul shows us that the Spirit’s fullness is just as necessary in the home. If our homes are to reflect heaven, then our lives must be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

In verses 19-21, Paul then gives us three clear evidences of a Spirit-filled life, especially as it relates to relationships. First, a Spirit-filled believer is joyful. Verse 19 speaks of worship, praise, and melody in the heart. Joy is not dependent on circumstances—it flows from a heart controlled by the Spirit. Second, a Spirit-filled believer is thankful. Verse 20 tells us to give thanks always for all things to God. Gratitude transforms relationships. Complaining divides, but thanksgiving unites.

Years ago, I came across something that I believe truly helped me to be thankful person. If I always remember that I am a sinner that deserves hell and the wrath of God and I don’t deserve anyone to kind are nice to me and that I should expect just the opposite, when someone is nice to me, or gives to me, because I didn’t deserve it or expect it, I immediately and genuinely feel very grateful and thankful and want to express that attitude to both the Lord and whoever is sharing their gift of generosity or kindness to me. Only as the Holy Spirit is in control of my life makes this possible.

Third, and most emphasized in this passage, a Spirit-filled believer is submissive. Verse 21 introduces the idea of submitting to one another in the fear of God, and Paul then applies this submission to marriage. Wives are called to lovingly submit to their husbands, and husbands are commanded to love their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church. This is not about dominance or inequality—it is about Spirit-controlled love and mutual responsibility. When both husband and wife are filled with the Spirit, harmony becomes possible. The same principle will later be applied to parents and children, and to servants and masters. In every relationship, the key is the same: Spirit-filled living.

Paul does not mention miracles, tongues, or dramatic signs as proof of spiritual fullness. Instead, he points us to everyday attitudes—joy, gratitude, and submission. When these are present, the home begins to reflect heaven on earth. The unity Paul described earlier in Ephesians must now be lived out at home. When each family member yields to the Spirit, relationships are transformed, and God’s design for harmony becomes reality.

May God help each of us to be continually filled with the Spirit, so that our homes and all of our relationships might reflect His peace, His love, and His glory.

God bless you, and I trust you have a wonderful, wonderful day.