April 26, 2013
Wow! There is a lot of depth in these two chapters. Paul clearly defines how we as believers should live, and he clearly states the things that should be gone and abandoned from our lives. It all goes back to Paul's lists of comparisons I wrote about for Galatians 5 on April 17 & 18. Our lives reflect which list we are living. We are to be humble, gentle, patient, bearing with each other in love. Ephesians 4:3 - "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." The "bond of peace" is quite the contrast from the "men of violence" described in Psalm 140.
When we were first given God's promise of Psalm 140 by Jane, and when we were beginning to memorize it, I used to wonder about the words "men of violence." Those words seemed so strong, so harsh. This was back during the time when we still did not understand what all lie beneath the surface in my sister and brother-in-law's lives. When what was hidden began to be exposed, I was naive. I now realize I was in a state of denial. I just couldn't believe the people we loved could have purposely set out to harm us. It took me a long, long time to come to terms with "truth." The truth is their actions were not accidental, their actions were well thought out and planned, and their actions were deliberate, purposeful, and intentional. Now we know their underhanded actions with us were not (and are not) isolated actions, but are instead part of a pattern of behavior that has happened both before and after us. Now I can clearly see their actions are indeed acts of violence and a breaking of the "bond of peace" believers are to live and produce in their lives.
These "acts" of violence are not just committed against man (which results in fractured relationships and explains the list of many names in my brother-in-law's notebook which turned out to be a list of friends and family they used to be close to but are now estranged from), but the "acts" of violence are ultimately against God himself and his clear instructions for how we are to live our lives.
Do people realize when they insist on their own selfish ways their actions are not just against man, but against God himself? Do they know and not care? Would they change if they understood? Have their hearts been hardened to where they don't care?
The people of Ephesus were trying to do both. Know the truth of God, but live following after their own selfish desires. It cannot be done. If we are not purposely drawing closer to God, we are falling farther away from God and "self" becomes our god and God's plan for our lives falls apart.
God gave His people gifts for the purpose of building up, teaching, caring for, and serving—all for the purpose of making the body of Christ stronger. None of that can happen when self is in control.
Next Entry: Ephesians 4:1 – 5:20 (Continued)
Wow! There is a lot of depth in these two chapters. Paul clearly defines how we as believers should live, and he clearly states the things that should be gone and abandoned from our lives. It all goes back to Paul's lists of comparisons I wrote about for Galatians 5 on April 17 & 18. Our lives reflect which list we are living. We are to be humble, gentle, patient, bearing with each other in love. Ephesians 4:3 - "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." The "bond of peace" is quite the contrast from the "men of violence" described in Psalm 140.
When we were first given God's promise of Psalm 140 by Jane, and when we were beginning to memorize it, I used to wonder about the words "men of violence." Those words seemed so strong, so harsh. This was back during the time when we still did not understand what all lie beneath the surface in my sister and brother-in-law's lives. When what was hidden began to be exposed, I was naive. I now realize I was in a state of denial. I just couldn't believe the people we loved could have purposely set out to harm us. It took me a long, long time to come to terms with "truth." The truth is their actions were not accidental, their actions were well thought out and planned, and their actions were deliberate, purposeful, and intentional. Now we know their underhanded actions with us were not (and are not) isolated actions, but are instead part of a pattern of behavior that has happened both before and after us. Now I can clearly see their actions are indeed acts of violence and a breaking of the "bond of peace" believers are to live and produce in their lives.
These "acts" of violence are not just committed against man (which results in fractured relationships and explains the list of many names in my brother-in-law's notebook which turned out to be a list of friends and family they used to be close to but are now estranged from), but the "acts" of violence are ultimately against God himself and his clear instructions for how we are to live our lives.
Do people realize when they insist on their own selfish ways their actions are not just against man, but against God himself? Do they know and not care? Would they change if they understood? Have their hearts been hardened to where they don't care?
"In the Lord's name, I tell you this. Do not continue living like those who do not believe. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. They have lost all feeling of shame, and they use their lives for doing evil." Ephesians 4:17–19I guess that answers my questions. I wish it didn't, but it does. The people of Ephesus knew better. They were taught the truth of Jesus. They were taught to leave their old self behind and to stop living in the way they lived before. When you don't stop and change your ways, "that old self becomes worse, because people are fooled by the evil things they want to do..." and you sink deeper into the mire of sin. As believers in Christ, the old should pass away because we are a new person. Ephesians 4:23 - "That person is made to be like God, made to be truly good and holy."
The people of Ephesus were trying to do both. Know the truth of God, but live following after their own selfish desires. It cannot be done. If we are not purposely drawing closer to God, we are falling farther away from God and "self" becomes our god and God's plan for our lives falls apart.
God gave His people gifts for the purpose of building up, teaching, caring for, and serving—all for the purpose of making the body of Christ stronger. None of that can happen when self is in control.
Next Entry: Ephesians 4:1 – 5:20 (Continued)
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