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.

There is a great deal of rich content here, but this struck me just now. Paul is writing to largely Gentile believers, yet he tells them not to live as Gentiles! The point is, once we believe in Jesus as our Messiah, we become descendants of Abraham by faith. (Romans 4:16) Accordingly, we are no longer to live like God’s law has no relation to us, but rather in respectful, grateful obedience. (Romans 6:1-2) Today there are thankfully many Messianic Jews, just as Paul was, but the vast majority of believers are Gentiles. As came up a few days ago, we who were once Gentiles have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13) Accordingly, we are to live as those who are close to God, and not as those who want nothing to do with Him. As it says in verses 22-24 following here, we’re to “change clothes,” metaphorically speaking, take off and discard our old selves and put on what God has created us to be in Christ. That can seem scary, because we’re very used to how we have been, and the familiar is comfortable, but what God has prepared for us is glorious! The devil does all he can to hinder this, so that is why we are to submit ourselves to God and resist the devil. (James 4:7) We can’t receive and enjoy all that God has for us until we let go of the lies with which the devil has tied us down in the past. It’s not that the devil has any actual power to keep us from it; we just have to choose to let go of the one and take hold of the other.

This is something I have been a bit slow to grasp fully, because I was raised as a “cultural Christian” at least, and never got into some of the more destructive behaviors I see around me. That doesn’t mean I always walked as a child of God! It does mean that my sins were more hidden, more internal, if you will. That’s why God had to bring me up short and confront me with my spiritual pride, which is a deadly thing indeed. Pride is as bad, if not worse, a thing to walk in as drunkenness, for example. Having been a “tea-totaler” for most of my life means nothing if my heart isn’t humble before God. As a pastor, I am not to run around condemning people for their behavior, but I am to let them know then they are being unwise and/or deceived. I must do that, however, in love and humility, knowing that I’m as much in need of the grace of God as they are.

Father, thank You for this Word. I feel like it’s a message I need to share, but I’m not preaching for the next two Sundays! Help me remember it and share it when and how You intend, so that we may all be liberated from the traps of the devil and walk in all that You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!