datethewordtest

Tag: Ephesians

  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 16 (6/16) is Ephesians 6:16

    “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench
    all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” – Ephesians 6:16
    Deploy your FAITH Against All the Devil’s Attacks 

    Our awesome God has provided – shall we say EQUIPPED us with the exact EQUIPMENT needed for any ENCOUNTER with our ferocious ENEMY (the evil one – the devil) who is seeking to devour us.  This equipment is called the Armor of God.  In Ephesians 6:10, 11, and 13 we are instructed to STAND STRONG and WITHSTAND the devil’s attacks by PUTTING ON the WHOLE ARMOR of GOD.  This means putting on the belt of truth (TRUTH is what holds everything together), the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, along with taking up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.

    Here in verse 16 of Ephesians 6 Paul tells us to TAKE UP the SHIELD of FAITH.  It will be our FAITH that will overcome the ways of the world that we are tempted to participate in and conform to.  Recall 1 John 5:4 as it says,  “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our FAITH.”

    Let us be clear that our walk with God involves warfare. The enemy will attack with temptations. The image here is when a fiery arrow is being shot the soldier holds up/stays behind their shield. The shied will then quench – not just stop – but quench the fiery arrow.  

    As a temptation is shot, we activate FAITH.  We should know the devil’s ways are to deceive and cause doubt.  His temptations come with the question, “Has God said.”  To handle the temptation calls for FAITH.  Faith is believing God is right.  Faith is believing the TRUTH that God has said!  As faith is activated obedience follows. Obedience is the devil’s “kryptonite.”  He absolutely cannot stay around an obedient believer.  Recall James 4: 7 as it says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil (submit and resist speak of OBEDIENCE) and he will flee from you.” Obedience to God causes the devil to run and hide from you!

     Faith quenches the lie – the deception – of the devil.

    We do have a great example of this from Jesus.  As He was tempted He did not just quote Scripture to the devil.  As He quoted Scripture back to the devil He was combatting the devil with TRUTH and with FAITH.  He was saying that HE KNEW WHAT GOD HAD SAID and (AND) HE BELIEVED what GOD said over what the devil was saying!

    The victories you will experience over temptations will come as you KNOW THE TRUTH and BELIEVE the TRUTH and OBEY THE TRUTH or simply put, you take up the shield of faith!

    Dressing for spiritual success means Shields UP!! ACTIVATE FAITH!!

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 16 (6/16) is Ephesians 6:16. It says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

    How are you growing your faith so you can activate your faith?

    Continue Strong by FAITH,
    And remember to DATE The Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 13 (6/13) is Ephesians 6:13

    “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Ephesians 6:13
    Dressing for Spiritual Success

    As believers, we should know there is spiritual warfare going on around us all the time, and many times we are the prime target of the evil one.  As Paul wraps up his letter to the Ephesians, he tells them (Eph. 6:10-12) to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

    Let us make no mistake here about the battle and the enemy we face.  We have a ferocious ENEMY seeking to devour us (cf. I Peter 5:8).  Yet we must know that God has supplied the believer with various pieces of EQUIPMENT called the Armor of God to handle whatever the enemy may bring.   Thus, it is vitally important to be EDUCATED about what each piece of the armor of God is and know what each one does. (**Can you name them and give a short description?)

    Getting properly educated on each piece EQUIPS us for encounters with the ENEMY. 

    Practically, to withstand the onslaught of the enemy and STAND, the believer needs to start each new day dressing for spiritual warfare, yes, dressing for spiritual success.  As you start your day visualize the different pieces of the armor of God being put on.  You will have your waist girded with the belt of truth.  You will have your chest covered with the breastplate of righteousness.  You will have on your feet shoes representing the preparation of the gospel of peace.  Eph. 6:16 says, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;

    Getting personal:  Do you recognize the reality of daily spiritual warfare in your personal life?  Do you know how much the enemy wants to steal from you, destroy you, and devour you?  

    Are you equipping yourself with God’s supernatural equipment for encounters with the enemy?

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 13 (6/13) is Ephesians 6:13. It says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

    Don’t give your enemy the edge by failing to properly prepare for his attacks.  Get equipped with God’s equipment and educated on each piece of the equipment to handle any encounter with your enemy.

    Continue Strong, dressed for spiritual success,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 2 (6/2) is Ephesians 6:2

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 2 (6/2) is Ephesians 6:2

    ““Honor your father and mother,” which is the first
    commandment with promise.” – Ephesians 6:2
    Respect for others starts with RESPECT for Parents

    The Apostle Paul is giving God’s instructions for the family in the Book of Ephesians.  He has given instructions to the husband and the wife in chapter 5 and now he is giving instructions to children. Children are to OBEY their parents. (Eph. 6:1) With that said the apostle Paul places the FIFTH commandment of the Ten Commandments before his readers reminding them to ““Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise.”   

    For just a moment let us consider the fifth commandment.  The fifth commandment begins the section of the commandments that speak to our relationships with others and the first relationship we have is with our parents.

    With the 5th commandment, we see a SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP of children with their father and their mother.  We then read of a SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT in which children are to HONOR their father and their mother.  To HONOR is to first and foremost show RESPECT.  It is holding the parents in the highest esteem.  It is placing on them great VALUE, leading the child to LISTEN to the parent’s instructions and insights on living life!  It brings about a desire not to disappoint. 

    A disobedient child brings disappointment.

    The verse then reminds us that the commandment comes with a SURE REWARD as God blesses the child that obeys and honors their parent. It is worth noting that Proverbs tells of what may happen to the child that disobeys and dishonors their parent.  From Proverbs 30:17 we read (warning – it is not pretty), “The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.”  Needless to say, God is serious about children honoring their parents! 

    One final thought – if children are NOT being taught to be respectful at home, and respectful to parents how can we expect children to be respectful in public, with teachers and others in authority?  While the verse is addressed to children, it is incumbent that PARENTS TEACH CHILDREN TO OBEY, TO RESPECT, and TO HONOR their PARENTS.  

    QUESTION: If you are a parent receiving this devotional let me ask WHEN is the last time you taught Eph. 6:1 and 2 to your children? 

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 2 (6/2) is Ephesians 6:2. It says, ““Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise.”

    God honors and blesses the home that honors and obeys Him!

    Continue Strong implementing His instructions for the family,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word for May 28 (5/28) is Ephesians 5:28

    Verse to DATE the Word for May 28 (5/28) is Ephesians 5:28

    “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he
    who loves his wife loves himself.”  – Ephesians 5:28

    A Major INSTRUCTION to a Husband

    Some of the most important instructions for a successful marriage are clearly laid out in Ephesians 5:21-33.  No person should enter marriage without knowing God’s instructions. The responsibility of both the husband and the wife is laid out in verse 21 which states, “submitting to one another in the fear of God.”  Starting with this command to both the husband and the wife, we then find within verses 22-33 a variety of other responsibilities for both the husband and wife. The ultimate instruction for the wife comes in verse 33 as Paul sums up all the responsibilities by saying that the wife shows respect or as I like to say, “gives admiration” to her husband. 

    Within verses 22-33, we also find a variety of responsibilities for the husband with verse 33 giving the ultimate instruction as Paul commands the husband to love his wife as himself.  I like to say the husband is to “pay close attentionto her needs.”  

    What is written in verse 33 is basically a repeat of our verse to DATE on 5/28. Eph. 5:28 says, “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.”  What does this mean?  As a man would look after his needs, he is to be focused on looking after the needs of his wife. 

    Husbands are to NOTICE her needs and not NEGLECT her needs. 

    To the husbands (now and those who will be in the future) reading this you better know that God has high expectations and demands for a husband. Your needs are secondary to the needs of your wife and your children. You are to be diligent in looking to their spiritual, physical, and emotional needs.  It is the husband’s responsibility to understand his wife (1 Peter 3:7) and keeps her emotional tank full with encouraging words, words of affirmation, and appreciation.

    JUST A NOTE HERE: While you may expect to go into marriage to get love, the mature man will realize quickly it is your responsibility to GIVE love!! Man up and LOVE your wife and your children!!

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 28 (5/28) is Ephesians 5:28. It says, “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.”

    A marriage works when you work at your marriage.  The role and responsibility of a husband is to PAY ATTENTION to the needs of his wife and MEET THOSE NEEDS!  Meet her needs first and your needs will then be met. 

    Continue Strong being responsible with your responsibilities,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    BTW – you really don’t have to know a lot to have a successful marriage.  4 of the major combination codes are found in Genesis 2:24 and Ephesians 5:33.   Genesis 2:24 tells the couple to LEAVE and CLEAVE!  Ephesians 5:33 tells the husband to PAY ATTENTION to the needs of his wife and for the wife to GIVE ADMIRATION to her husband.

  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 19 (5/19) is Ephesians 5:19

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 19 (5/19) is Ephesians 5:19

    “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing 
    and making melody in your heart to the Lord,” – Ephesians 5:19
    A Spirit-filled believer is Singing!

    Do you love to sing?  I love to sing but no one around me loves to hear the sound of my singing.  I have been asked to sing many SOLOS – so low no one can hear me.  At Easter I was asked to sing ON A HILL FAR AWAY.   

    When it comes to singing, we read that God sings over us.  Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness….He will rejoice over you with singing.”   We know that God loves to hear singing and that heaven is filled with singing.  We read of singing in Revelations 5 and 14.  Revelation 15:3 says, “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!”  Every now and then there comes the question of what will we be doing in heaven.  Well, we will be singing a lot!

    But before we get to heaven we are instructed to SING here on earth. We are to sing with others. We are to sing to others. We are to sing in our hearts.  (I hear that part of the verse quoted to me a lot!)  We are to sing Psalms.  We are to sing hymns.  We are to sing spiritual songs, known today as praise and worship.  

    If I may give an opinion on songs to sing, I have found it helpful to sing songs ABOUT the Lord and songs TO the Lord.  

    As you consider putting into action Ephesians 5:19 make the commitment that you are going to sing.  Sing in the shower.  Sing alone in your car.  Sing in your heart.  And if you can sing and not hurt other people’s ears (like me) sing in public.   Lift up your voice to the Lord.  

    As you consider putting into action Ephesians 5:19 I encourage you to have a hymnal to use for your quiet time and as well use your computer to listen to and sing praise and worship songs.  Have a diet of songs that allows you to sing ABOUT God and to sing TO God!  

    I do believe that when a person gets saved God puts in their heart a new song.  (Psalm 40:3  says, “He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.”)  And I connect Ephesians 5:18 to Ephesians 5:19. When you are filled with the Spirit you will be singing songs about God and to God!

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 19 (5/19) is Ephesians 5:19. It says, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,”

    Continue Strong SINGING to the Lord,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 2 (5/2) is Ephesians 5:2

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 2 (5/2) is Ephesians 5:2

    “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering
    and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” – Ephesians 5:2
    To Be Like Jesus is to Love (and Forgive) like Jesus.

    Ephesians 5 starts with “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” Interestingly, this verse follows Ephesians 4:32 which says, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”  Then following “be imitators of God,” comes our verse to DATE that says, “walk in love as Christ has loved us.”  You can see now why I have as my title To Be Like Jesus is to Love (and Forgive) like Jesus.  

    You may have heard that when looking at the characteristics that best describe Christians that two of the highest descriptions are GIVERS and FORGIVERS.  I like that description as it matches how Christ lived.  He was a GIVER as our verse tells us.  He loved us so much that He GAVE HIMSELF as an offering and a sacrifice.  He gave His life, dying on a cruel cross, for all humanity.

    He gave and He FORGAVE.  Today, as a believer your sins have been forgiven.  As a reminder of this as well as how it happened notice:
    1 John 2:12  I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for His name’s sake.
    Colossian 2:13  And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
    Ephesians 1:7  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,

    The forgiveness came because He died and He died because He loved us – He loved you.  

    Now let us be very honest with ourselves and acknowledge it is easy to read about loving and forgiving like Jesus, but the reality is this may be the hardest actions (or shall I say REACTIONS) we take.  People are HARD TO LOVE.  Saints still sin and sometimes they sin against you. How are you going to RESPOND when a fellow saint sins against you?   I will let you ponder on that.

    As a reminder about loving people, I place before you the statement that the time a person needs love the most is when they deserve it the least.  I also remind you that LOVE does not keep a record of wrongs. (1 Cor. 13:5d NIV)

    I also remind you that “forgiveness is the glue that holds all relationships together.”   And the standard for extending forgiveness is to forgive as Jesus forgave.  

    Question: Was there any sin of yours that He did not forgive?  (You know the answer is none.)
    Question: If He forgave any and all types of your sins, what sin(s) against you do you not have to forgive? (Told you this is hard)

    If we are to live and act like Jesus, then we are going to be extending forgiveness.  And our forgiveness will be extended because we are loving like Jesus. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 2 (5/2) is Ephesians 5:2. It says, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

    Show them Jesus by loving and forgiving them!

    Continue Strong living like Him,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 30 (4/30) is Ephesians 4:30

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 30 (4/30) is Ephesians 4:30

    “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were
    sealed for the day of redemption.” – Ephesians 4:30
    Don’t GRIEVE HOLY SPIRIT, THE HELPER

    As we make decisions about doing what is right or wrong, we have a HELPER.  When we become believers, we get a new resident in our lives as the Holy Spirit indwells us.  Jesus told His disciples as He was preparing to leave that He would send them the Helper.  In the Book of John, we have several verses that talk about the Helper or the Holy Spirit and what His role would be.
    John 14:16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,
    John 14:26  But the Helper, (the Holy Spirit), whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
    John 15:26  “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about me.
    John 16:13  When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.

    With the Holy Spirit, the HELPER, living within us we have one who speaks truth to us and guides us to practice the truth, to do what is right.  

    The Apostle Paul teaches that the Holy Spirit will give us the power to resist any temptation.  He writes in Galatians 5:16 for us to “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

    As we come to Ephesians 4:30, we learn that we can GRIEVE the Holy Spirit, the HELPER.  To “grieve” is to make sad or sorrowful, to bring about a heaviness.  Having read what the Holy Spirit, the HELPER does for us I would think we can understand how He is grieved when we sin.  In His role, He has helped us to know the truth of what is right and what is wrong.  In His role, He helps us to resist the temptations to do wrong.  When we do what is wrong the Helper has to feel rejection as we reject the truth, and we reject the help.  

    I see Ephesians 4:30 as a verse that serves as a filter for decision-making.  I want the actions I take, even the attitudes I display, to be pleasing to God.  I don’t want to disappoint Him, and I surely don’t want to GRIEVE the Holy Spirit.  

    Now it is worth noting the promise that comes in this verse.  While we can and do at times grieve and even quench the work of the Holy Spirit, we stay SEALED by Him for the day of redemption.  

    As you make decisions how much weight does the Holy Spirit and His “feelings” have before displaying an attitude or taking an action?

    Verse to DATE on April 30 (4/30) is Ephesians 4:30. It says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

    Bring pleasure, not pain to the Helper!

    Continue strong relying on the HELPER,
    And remember to DATE The Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 29 (4/29) is Ephesians 4:29

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 29 (4/29) is Ephesians 4:29

    “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary
    edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” – Ephesians 4:29
    If you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything!
     
    As the Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians in Ephesians 4, he will be instructing believers that there is to be a difference in how one lives. From verse 1 the believer is “to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called!” From verse 17 the believer no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind.” In verse 22 the believer is to “put off the former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,” In verse 24 the believer is “to put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Clearly, the believer lives differently.

    One may ask then HOW DOES ONE LIVE DIFFERENTLY?  There are several answers in Ephesians 4. 
    Ephesians 4:25 tells us to stop LYING.
    Ephesians 4:26 we are to stop losing our TEMPER.
    Ephesians 4:28 we are to stop STEALING and go to work, so we can earn an income to live and GIVE. 

    From Ephesians 4:29 we live differently when it comes to our WORDS, to our conversation. A life changed by Christ means our communication changes. Instead of corrupt, rotten, unwholesome, filthy communication coming out of our mouths that harms others, we have clean, wholesome, edifying language that helps people.  Our words convey respect for and the dignity of people.  Instead of using words to tear people down, the believer carefully chooses words to BUILD OTHERS UP!
     
    BTW – Jesus takes very seriously what we say about others.  From Matthew 5:21-22 He said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
     
    Are you careless with your words as you speak to and about others?
    Do you call people names that are not fitting?  Does your word devalue another person?
    Are you cruel with your words as you speak to and about others?

    Let us remember that our WORDS in so many ways reveal our heart.  It goes to reason that a clean heart will bring forth clean words and a dirty heart brings forth dirty words.

    What are your WORDS saying to others ABOUT your HEART? 

    What are your WORDS doing for the LISTENER?  Are they built up by your words or torn down by your words?  Are they harmed or helped?


    Verse to DATE on April 29 (4/29) is Ephesians 4:29. It says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
     
    If you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything!
     
    Continue Strong building others up with wholesome words,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 28 (4/28) is Ephesians 4:28

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 28 (4/28) is Ephesians 4:28

    “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” – Ephesians 4:28
    Living Radically Different

    Becoming a Christian and living the Christian life is about living DIFFERENTLY.  Ephesians speaks of our past life being radically changed by Christ as we go from being dead to being alive. It then speaks of our present life where we are living radically differently. I use the word “radically” because of verses like Ephesians 4:28. In this verse we start with a person who is a thief and is TAKING from others and we end with a GIVER who is generous and helping others.  In this one verse, we see a radically changed person.  One might even say this person is TRANSFORMED!

    Going into the verse a little deeper the Apostle Paul is teaching in Ephesians 4 about how a Christian does live.  As a new person in Christ, one does not steal.  Reading that should bring to your mind the 8th Commandment of the Ten Commandments.  It says, “You shall not steal.” Stated in the negative we look at it from the positive.  A person is to value and respect the possessions of others!! 

    Paul’s instructions to the believer is to have a noticeable, if you will, radical change. The one who has been stealing is no longer stealing but working.  The one stealing from others is now to earn a living by industry and integrity. (working with your hands what is GOOD.) They are not to be a TAKER but a WORKER!  

    BTW – This is not the only time the Apostle Paul addressed the subject of WORK.  Notice:
    1 Thessalonians 4:11  and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
    2 Thessalonians 3:10  For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
    2 Thessalonians 3:12  Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

    Now Paul instructs the new person in Christ to really think and live differently.  He not only tells the thief to stop TAKING he instructs them to change from harming others but to be helpful to others.   While earning a living and providing for oneself and for one’s family the new person is earning to have something to GIVE to someone in need! The one who was a TAKER before Christ is now a GIVER!!!! 

    For me, two things stand out from Ephesians 4:28.  
    This verse reminds us of how Christ does radically change a person’s life.  If you are in Christ you should have a testimony of a CHANGED and a CHANGING life.  

    Secondly, if you are stealing, being a TAKER, you are to STOP and go find a job.  Then as you work to earn a living and be a provider you are not to be a KEEPER but a GIVER. You are instructed from this verse to be working so you can help others.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 28 (4/28) is Ephesians 4:28. It says, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”

    Continue Strong living radically differently as a believer,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on April 17 (4/17) is Ephesians 4:17

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 17 (4/17) is Ephesians 4:17

    “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as
    the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,” – Ephesians 4:17
    Our verse to DATE the Word on April 17 (4/17) is Ephesians 4:17. Ephesians 4:17 says, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,”

    A WORTHY Walk is no longer a WORLDLY Walk

    From the start of the practical section of the Book of Ephesians the Apostle Paul calls on the believer to WALK WORTHY of the calling with which they were called. (Eph. 4:1) To walk worthy means there must be a change in how one walks/lives as the past walk was a life of sin.  It is expected that if someone knows Christ there is a story of change.  If there is no change then I am not sure how one can say they know Christ.  The believer goes from living a sinful life to a sanctified life.  The believer goes from doing things that displease God to doing the things that do please Him!

    To convey how one will live differently Paul writes the believer NO LONGER walks as the GENTILES walk.  The idea of “the Gentiles” is those who do not know God and have a worldly, self-centered, selfish mindset as opposed to one who knows God and has a God-centered, heavenly mindset.  

    You may recall that Jesus told His disciples that they were not to be like the Gentiles as they have a different value system.  They lord over people and use their authority for their own benefit. (Matt. 20:25)  The Gentiles do not live a life of faith but are constantly concerned about present needs.  (Matt. 6:32)

    As you consider your PRESENT walk with Christ what is your story of how you have changed?   How has becoming a Christian CHANGED you?  How different is the present walk from your past walk?  

    How is your mindset different?   The Apostle writes to no longer live like the Gentiles in the FUTILITY of their mind.  How is your thinking different now that you are a Christian?

    Maybe a couple of verses will help you answer the question.   The mind of a believer is having a mind that is set on the things above.  Colossians 3:1 says, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
    When we have our minds set on things above, we are looking for what God wants for us.  We have an eternal mindset as opposed to a temporal mindset.

    Philippians 2:5 calls for us to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” Having a Christ-like mindset is to have a SERVANT mindset.  It puts OTHERS above yourself.   Christ’s mindset was to do for others what they could never do for themselves.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on April 17 (4/17) is Ephesians 4:17. It says, “This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,”

    What are you NO LONGER DOING?

    Continue Strong living a different life!
    And remember to DATE the Word