September 26, 2024 -Chrisitan Living

ISAIAH 48:12-50:11

EPHESIANS 4:17-32

PSALM 69:1-18

PROVERBS 24:5-6

One Year Bible Audio & Daily Reading (oneyearbibleonline.com)

Instructions for Christian Living

Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 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. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

A Christian is no longer a Gentile as they are now part of the family of God. So today we can read this as no longer live as the unbelievers or non-Christians do. The darkness of their understanding and separation from God is apparent today as much as it was at the time this book was written. We see it throughout the culture. We are called to not live as they do.

Ephesians 4:20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 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; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

As Christians if we are growing and maturing we will be learning and what we are being taught should align with the truth of Jesus. Our leadership should be calling us out to put away our former lives and the way's of the world and be made new in our minds. To do that we need to be active in a church body, study the word and spend time in prayer. This takes time. In youth group during study we asked the question what is it that keeps you from prioritizing God. One answer was "time" and the other was "selfish desires". When we don't make time for God and we won't learn and grow in our knowledge and understanding of the word so we will not be aware of all the things in our lives that are our selfish desires. We are a new creation in Christ and should live as so.

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Clearly believing in Jesus is not all there is to living a Christian life. When we give our lives to Christ we are given the Holy Spirit but our free will is not taken from us. Just as the Ephesians struggled with their sinful natures and their old habits and influences of the culture they lived in, we to will struggle with ours. When we respond to our own sinful desires and fall into old habits and influences of the culture we grieve the Holy Spirit. Which I do not want to do. Thinking about this gives me something else to hold onto when tempted. Lord forgive me for all the times I have grieved the Holy

Spirit. The times that I have not lived up to the standard of one who was sealed for the day of redemption. Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.