Many saw the precious video posted on FB recently of the grandma reading Craig Smith’s “Wonky Donkey” to her grandson. It was HILARIOUS! My laughter was soaked with tears!! Yet not long after, I felt compelled to read Ephesians 4. That’s when I saw the connection: many in the church are winky, wonky, churchy donkeys!
In Ephesians 4, verses 1-13, Paul encourages us to have a walk worthy of the calling by which we’ve been called:
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, ‘When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.’ (Now that “He ascended”, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:”
In verses 14-16 he gives a beautiful picture of how Christ’s body of true believers should walk:
“That we be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, Christ: From Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
Then in verses 17-5:21 he lays out the carnal corruption that is so apparent in our flesh–our wonky life–and encourages us to make (“Let”) the choices to surrender and serve Christ, rather than our own selves. (If we leave ourselves redeemed, yet unrenewed, we are ineffective, slow, uncomely donkeys! Yes little sheep of the fold, I said DONKEYS!)
“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, ‘Speak every man truth with his neighbor’: for we are members one of another. ‘Be ye angry, and sin not’: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to Go for a sweet-smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore He saith, ‘Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light’. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”
Hey! Don’t get defeated and quit on me–we are all subject to fleshy donkey flubs! But we have a REDEEMER, an INDWELLER, a SANCTIFIER, a HOLY CONVERSATION, willing and able to reach in and live out a life holy wholly consecrated unto HIM! 🙂
It’s all a matter of “LET”. Let allows. Let releases. Let chooses. Let is in everyone’s grasp. Let is a tiny word with a HUGE impact.
The word “let” (in the KJV) is used 7 times in the referred passages–interestingly, one for every day of the week. Let’s review: (see what I did there? 😉 )
- “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath”, Eph 4:26
- “Let him that stole steal no more”, Eph 4:28a (Ask God to show you areas in your life where you are stealing. You’ll probably be shocked by what He reveals to you!)
- “Let him labor working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”, Eph 4:28b
- “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth…”, Eph 4:29
- “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice…”, Eph 4:31
- “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you…” Eph 5:3
- “Let no man deceive you with vain words…” Eph 5:6 (DISCERNMENT dear ones! Pray for discernment!!)
I wonder what would happen in the maturity lives of believers if each one of us surrendered to this “Let” challenge day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, in God’s provided grace and indwelling Holy Spirit power?! WOW!
No more Winky, Wonky, Churchy Donkeys…We’d be Lovey, Dovey, Walky the Talky Donkeys!
HEE HAW!!
🙂
Further reading: Colossians 3. I’ve quoted so much scripture in this post, I’ll just “dangle a carrot” with verses 15-17:
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”
*The Wonky Donkey, Craig Smith, ISBN-13: 978-0-545-26124-1, And a Special Thanks to my grandson for providing the donkey painting for my post! 🙂 (I adore the chocolate chip cookie in its mouth!! xoxo)
