01/02/2009

Ephesians 4:17-24 Message Bible


17-19 And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.
20-24 But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

Paul told the Ephesians that were believers that they should put aside their old sinful selves on a daily basis. I like how this version says that Paul insisted and God backed him up on it! If we are living in sin, we are deceitful...sin is deceit. There are many people today who think they can find happiness in money, sex, drinking, drugs, etc. Of course that will never bring them happiness. The only true happiness that we will find is in Jesus. When we are saved, we are new creatures. So take off those old garments - don't just shake them off, destroy them and put on the new ones which comes by God's power. We have been delivered so let's act like it so others may see Jesus. Our mind is also renewed so we should be speaking good news to everyone. We are created in the image and likeness of God. Thank you Lord!! Being taught the Gospel has been so good. Always be thankful and ask God to teach you more and more of the Word. Speak truth to each other and encourage each other. Thank you Lord that we no longer feel hopeless; that it left when we surrendered everything to Jesus.

I love how the Message Bible says we have no excuse of ignorance and that "everything" has to go that is rotten. There are many of us that still hold on to some "rotten" part of us. Just surrender it all to Jesus and let go once and for all. Paul believed that we would grow in the knowledge of the Gospel. He believed that if we read the Word, then we would grow spiritually. So as always, grow in the Word, expand your knowledge of it and take it to people who really need hope!