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Ephesians 4:20-24
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
New International Version (NIV)
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What were you expecting when you first followed Jesus? I love the story of the first grader who went to the first day of school. The year before he had been in a half-day kindergarten class. So when lunch time came on his first day, following his previous pattern, he packed up his things and prepared to leave for the day. The teacher noticed and asked, “What are you doing?” He said, “I’m getting ready to go home.” She said, “No. That was kindergarten. You are now in first grade. You stay for the whole day.” With a bewildered look the weary and wary first grader asked, “Who signed me up for this?” When you became a follower of Christ, what did you understand that to mean?
Paul wrote to the Christians in Ephesus to say, “That, however is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ . . .” How did Paul know what they learned? He was the preacher! Paul knew exactly what he said and meant when he called them to leave their old way of life and to follow Jesus. Salvation was never just about getting to heaven when we die. It was always about getting heaven into us while we live. Paul told them they were supposed to be made new in their minds so that they could become like God in true righteousness and holiness.
The Christian life is about transformation. God always expected us to become new. Christ changes the way we work, think, live and talk. For example, in our angry world, we could join the fray and speak angry words through social media. But disciples of Jesus speak words that build others up according to their needs to benefit those who listen. To speak otherwise grieves the Holy Spirit who has sealed us for redemption. We forgive because we have been forgiven. This is the course we are in. God signed us up. Will we stay through the finish?
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Pray with me:
Father, thank you for changing our minds and changing our lives. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight today, Lord our Rock and our Redeemer. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 6:9-11
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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