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The Book of Ephesians part 7 – Week 46 / November 11th
Walking in Christ
“…walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and Given Himself for us….”
Ephesians 4:17-31; 5:1-21
Christianity constitutes a behavior change for those who truly embrace it by determining to follow Jesus as Lord. It is not a religious experience but a transforming relationship experience. Those who repent actually meet a living Savior and walk with Him through life. It is for this reason that Paul, in chapter four and verse seventeen, states that we should no longer “walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind.” So walking in Christ means:
1. Renewing your mind 4:17-24
The real battle ground for Christians is their minds and not the ability and power of God to change them. We have to change our minds daily to agree with God’s word and thereby we unleash the transforming power of Jesus in us. We must want to be different and this means taking care of our minds. The Bible also calls this repentance. Our minds constitute a gateway into our very souls and so our minds have to be protected and cared for. What gets hold of our minds will get hold of our emotions and our emotions will control our actions. Christians are therefore exhorted in scripture to “gird up the loins of their minds.” (1Peter 1:13) No one just fails on the spur of the moment as a Christian. No, we fail when we let our minds dwell on sinful and futile things. This is also why Paul writes in his epistle to the Philippian Church that they should focus their minds on wholesome and good things. (Philippians 4:8-9)
Here then in this Ephesians’ passage Paul tells us that we are transformed into the new man or woman, that Jesus wants us to be, when we purposefully renew our minds and conform our minds to Christ’s ways. If we think being a Christ follower is something else then we are sadly mistaken. Walking with Christ means being changed by Him into His glorious likeness. (Romans 12:1-2)
2. Renewing your behavior 4:25-32
Our faith is a “one another faith”; meaning that if the power of sin is reversed in our lives then we no longer live in a way that we are alienated from one another. Being reconciled to God through Jesus’ death on the cross means that our relations at a horizontal or human level are reconciled as well. To lie and dispute with those around us and especially with fellow Christians is a total defeat. For Paul then there is no doubt that struggles in this area will come as we move toward perfection in Christ but we have to handle these with much grace and wisdom. This means avoid lying, never let anger get a foothold in your life, do not steel and defraud those around you and never let corrupt speech come from your mouth. These, if left to go unchecked will give the devil a “place” in our churches and lives! Do not do it and if you do confess it immediately and put it away from your life and your Heavenly Father will forgive you. (1John 1:9)
By contrast we must be kind and forgiving and never grieve the Holy Spirit by whom we have been sealed (designated as God’s own purchased vessel) until the full day of redemption arrives and we are resurrected from the dead.
3. Renew your focus 5:1-14
Our focus is to be “imitators of God as dear children.” Just as Jesus walked in love and so His life was a sweet fragrance to God His Father so we to must walk in such a way that our lives give off a good smell! I have met many Christians over the years whose lives literally stink. Paul truly labors this point in this passage as he wants his readers to know exactly what it means to follow Jesus and the real dangers of walking in a way that contradicts one’s profession of faith. All those things which are contrary to Christ’s character, if not dealt with by repentance and godly sorrow, will send us to hell! We will not inherit the Kingdom of God if we do not fully appropriate Jesus’ redemptive power in our lives. We should not have fellowship with darkness and indeed we should dispel the darkness by the brightness of Jesus’ light in us. God has given us “everything we need for life and godliness in Christ” (2Peter 1:3) and thus there is no need for us to fail. As Christians then we must awake from our spiritual slumber and embrace the light of Christ with much joy.
4. Renew your purpose 5:15-21
You are on earth to walk wisely and circumspectly and not as a fool! We only get one shot at life and many have ended up as fools at the end of life’s journey. They were like Saul of old who declared finally that he had played the fool and was thus undone. There is nothing more tragic than a wasted life. Wisdom is what we need and godly wisdom is defined as the ability to apply knowledge correctly. How will your life end? Will it end as a fool or as one who took hold of Christ, embraced His redemptive wisdom and was full of the joyful songs of the Lord? The true Christian is filled with God’s love and joy and, in fellowship with others, is thankful for God’s grace and goodness given to us in Jesus. This Christian knows his or her purpose on earth and how to walk through life and does it with grace and dignity and all to the glory of God. This is how I want to end my days; what about you?
Malcolm Hedding
©Malcolm Hedding Ministries
2013Devotional