17 With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Renew Your Thoughts & Attitudes
At first glace, you might wonder what Paul has against Gentiles. I mean, he’s not really all that nice to them in this passage. Wasn’t it just in Romans that he challenged the Jews and the Gentiles to respect each other and live in peace? Now, he’s describing the Gentiles in a less than flattering light. What gives?
Well, he’s talking to Gentiles. That’s who the Ephesians were. He’s reminding of what their life was like before Christ. If he had been writing to a predominately Jewish group, he likely would have talked about pharisaical behaviour. And without Christ, they were all of the things Paul suggests and more.
What Paul is saying, regardless of your background, is that when you come to Christ, you should think and behave differently. There should be a clear change in your lifestyle. Tomorrow, he’s going to talk about specific areas, but today he’s speaking in general terms. In a nutshell, he is pointing out that without the grace provided through Christ, people live for themselves. They are god of their own life. And that’s no way for a Christ follower to live.
However, it’s not simple to change that attitude. It takes inviting God’s spirit to renew your thoughts and attitudes. We need God to help us work through those habits that cause us to continually turn our back on him. With God’s help, we learn to live a life where He is God, not us.
My prayer: Lord, I know there are areas of my life where my attitude does not line up with you. I need help from your Spirit to change the way I think and the attitudes I have. So, help me. Thank you for the work that you will do in my life. Amen.
Until tomorrow.
