The Way of Darkness

Jesus Is Lord
Victory in Jesus
Live in the Light

Ephesians 4:17-24

The Message

The Old Way Has to Go

^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.

For Reflection

We live in a New Testament world -- in the hollow of God's hand, loved, protected, and guided in His grace.  He speaks to each of us individually.  He offers a choice.  Shall we choose to follow contemporary culture or the culture of the Kingdom of God. He offers us a new life in Him.  How much of the old life do you still hang on to?  What  is it that you can not let go?  How does that seduce you away from the life in God which you have chosen?

Pray

that you will give up on modern cultural expectations and give in to the culture of God's Kingdom.  Pray that you will place your life in God's hands.  Pray for the trust and courage to risk a God-centered life.