 |
|
|
June 18 This I say therefore, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart. Ephesians 4:17,18. In this letter to the Ephesians Paul has explained all of our blessing, our position, in Christ. Only until this fourth chapter does he explain to us how we should walk. In other words, we are to walk as if we understand our position in Christ. It will take time and devotion to the Lord to reach this point, but God is patient. We need to be delivered from the false idea that God is around to “help” us. Instead we have been fully equipped by God to show His nature to the world. All we need do is accept His workings within us. The world walks in the futility of their mind. We are bombarded on all sides by the concept that we are to determine our own goals and methods of attaining those goals. Yet this concept will lead us into condemnation unless we choose to believe the word of God and turn to Jesus by faith. Yes, the most important choice we can make is to set our goals toward God. The manner of doing this is to trust in the word of God. It alone explains our salvation in Christ Jesus. Our walk in faith will lead us into paths of righteousness and peace. We will show patterns of behavior that the world will not understand, but in the long run we can create a hunger for God among unbelieving friends and neighbors. There may be conflicts, but through each one of them we will gain experiential knowledge of Jesus. We will be ever so slowly changed into His likeness. Oh how I long for that experience! Heavenly Father, we marvel at Your ways. You patiently watch us, often on the wrong path, and then You restore us to a walk that is more close to Jesus. We learn so slowly, yet You keep reaching out to us in love. Thank you in the name of Jesus. Amen. |
