Read: Ephesians
4
God wants His Body to be holy and mature. He desires
that we would “walk in a manner worthy of the calling we’ve received” (v 1).
Once we have knowledge of the truth of Christ is and what He has done for us,
we are responsible for how we handle that knowledge. Once we have experienced
God and known His saving power, we must live out of this knowledge. We cannot
claim to know Christ and continue living in sin. This is hypocritical and
self-deceiving. The life that has met Christ must be the life that is submitted
to Christ. His holiness demands this of us.
While God demands that we do our part to live a
holy life, He understands that we are imperfect humans. Our sin nature prevents
us from fully living in holiness. Because of this, He gives us His grace to
help us live rightly. In this passage of Scripture alone, we see three key ways
God helps believers live lives of holiness. First, He empowers people with
gifts. God appoints people to the different roles of the fivefold ministry
(apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers) “to equip God’s
people to do his work and build up the church” (v 11-12). We can grow in
holiness with the help of the ministers God places in our lives. Second, God
provides us with warnings against falling back into our former lives (v 17-24).
The enemy would have us forget the ugliness of a sinful life. Sometimes we need
to be reminded of how things were without Christ in order to be motivated to
continue our pursuit of Christ. Third, God helps us grow in holiness by giving
us specific guidance (v 25-32). He uses Scripture to give us practical
instruction on how to make our lives pleasing to Him.
Prayer and
Journaling
1. God wants you 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” (v 22-24). Are there any areas of hidden sin in
your life here you haven’t put off your old self? Confess these to God. Receive
His forgiveness and ask for His grace to change.
2. Re-read Ephesians 4:25-32. Ask the Holy Spirit
to speak to you through this passage. What verses or thoughts stand out to you?
Ask God to show you how you can live out these words.
3. Pray for Christians in the marketplace. Their
character is a huge factor in how people in their spheres of influence view
Christianity. Pray that God would empower them to live in a manner worthy of
their calling. Pray that they would see that their greatest calling in life is
to bring God glory.
