Walk Worthy- Be Seen with Him- In The Word -4-22-19
A lot of
people go to church on Easter Sunday and realize that God is real, that Jesus
died for them and they turn their hearts over to Him.
The 4th
chapter of Ephesians deals with what we need to do after that; when we turn our
lives from old us to new us we need to make a change. We no longer desire to do
the same things, well some of the things that we used to do. For some reason
that may be noncomprehending at first, we want to do better, give God glory,
and to clean up our acts a bit. Sometimes this means we change who we hang
with, but for the most part we change who we will become.
This I
say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as
the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding
darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that
is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have
given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed
you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former
conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit
of your mind,
and that you put on the new man
which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:20-25
As we
progress forward in our newfound freedom in Christ we will learn a lot more
about it, but our behaviors will change. We may not want to go hang out and do
the worldly things we once thought were ‘cool’ and that is because we now have
the Holy Spirit to guide our choices. I can remember trying to convince myself
that I was still the same person, I ‘just believe in God’. After a while,
almost in retrospect, I realized I was changed from the inside out! For me, who
drove a gold metallic Pinto car around with a sticker on the back that said; “Improve
your Image be Seen with Me!” it meant adding one that said “Jesus is Risen!” to
show those who knew me that I had changed. My image changed from one of self
importance to God importance. I became someone who chose to do what God would
want me to do; or at least what I thought He would.
Therefore,
putting away lying, “Let each one of
you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of
one another. “Be
angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who
stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may
have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,
but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace
to the hearers.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the
day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil
speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:25-32
I had to change my stinking thinking from putting Teresa
first to putting God first in my life. It was easier and actually more exciting
than I would have thought to change from the person who thought I was the most
important person, at 18, to the 19 year old who learned so much from the Bible
that I knew I was not. I had learned in a year to follow His lead.
Sometimes it is not that easy to let go of pride, and other
things the Bible calls foolishness.
We think we know more, or can handle things ourselves. God
desires for us to lean on Him in times of trouble or sorrow and not try to do
it alone. He is here for you today if you are going through either of these as
much as He is for those of you who are excitedly awaiting His next direction in
your life! Maybe you have been benched when you wanted to get in there and
pitch a game? Or maybe God has put you off to the side to rest a while. If this
is it take time to grow in Him. Take time to seek Him in the mean time as you
see the time allows. Read more, grow more!
Whatever you do try to do what Jesus would do if He were
you. Whatever you do grow closer to Him by remembering that He is right there
with you in whatever you do.
Take time to be still… and know that He is today.
Heavenly Father, help us to listen for Your voice in all
that we do, help us to change from our wrinkled worn out ways to the brand new
us as we go through our days following You. In Jesus name, amen.
Suggested Reading: Ephesians 4:1-31, Jude 1:1-25, Acts
11:1-24, Romans 8: 1-39