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Reading - The Christian in the World (Ephesians 4:17-5:2)
In my Bible this passage is headed "Living as Children of Light". It is a passage of contrasts, of darkness and light, of futile and fruitful thinking, of old and new, of truth and falsehood, of anger and compassion, of diligence and idleness, and of hope and despair. It all begins with the way we think "you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking." Prov.23:6-7 tells us that a man is not always what he appears to be but what he is in his thinking,
"Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. 'Eat and drink', he says to you, but his heart is not with you." The footnote gives an alternative translation of verse 7 "for as he thinks within himself, so he is."
Here is a man giving a feast and appearing to be generous when all along his mind isn't on his guest but on the cost. As children of light we must not have such a double standard. We must
"Put off falsehood and speak truthfully" (v.25)
Not be subject to our emotions (which are natural) but control them to
avoid sin (v.26)
Be honest in our dealings, diligent in our work, and giving in our ways
(v.28)
Find wholesome ways of expressing ourselves, and of building up others
(v.29)
Replace bitterness, anger, slander, etc. with compassion and forgiveness
(v.31)
Be imitators of God, living a life of love and sacrifice (5:1-2)
A passage like this can be both inspiring, as it appeals to our sense of what is right, and daunting when we think of our own shortcomings and human weakness. What seems incredible is the injunction to "Be imitators of God". How is this possible?
If the lives of the Gentiles are rooted in futile thinking, darkened understanding, and ignorance (vv.17-18), the life of the Christian is rooted in fruitful thinking, enlightened understanding, and true knowledge.
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light" (5:8)
This "change of heart" from darkness to light is effected, not by following a course in human ethics, or positive thinking.
"But 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."
This radical change is not cosmetic, putting on
a show, a façade - a feast. This is fundamental and is only possible
because the Christian is, "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (2:10)
This is "the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness
and holiness" (4:24). This is the new creation in which we grow as
we "put on the new self" and are made new in the attitude of
our minds. This is God's work in us not our work for God. As we co-operate
with Him we grow into the children of light he wants us to be, knowing
that we are sealed as God's own "for the day of redemption"
(v.30 c.f. 1:13). We may have every confidence, then, that what God requires
of us God also provides for us in Christ, if we would but trust him and
walk in the light. How will you renew your mind this week? How will you
walk in the light?