Live the New Life in Christ

Faith in Action

The Early Church Proclaims Faith in Christ

Faith to Unite

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

Once you have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, the journey begins.  Becoming an authentic Christian does not in some magic way automatically readjust your persona. Maturing in the grace or Jesus Christ is a process, transforming the essence of who you are to become, a child of God. In your mind you know Jesus. Now you must open your heart so that the Holy Spirit can displace your former self and fill your soul with a longing for righteousness.

Pray

Pray so that God can fill your soul with the desire for the blessings found in a life transformed. Pray for the wisdom and courage to mature in grace and follow the Way of Christ in partnership with God.

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