February 27, 2024

“You were taught…to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness; to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.” (Ephesians 4.24, 23, 22)

REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

In the midst of an interesting discussion online concering “Paul’s people-pleasing methodology,” I commented that while we should certainly get to know the people we are ministering to [intentionally or unintentionally] there is supposed to be a sense of boundary as to what is allowable and what is not. While the person on the other side of the discussion was adamant about Paul’s “call to pleasing others,” it could never be such as it departed from the caveats of righteousness and a heart to not lead the weaker brother or sister into harm’s way. There is a bottomline as mighty ones of God in Jesus Christ that we must hold on to: we are called to be in the world but not of it. Paul’s words today to the community of faith in Jesus Christ established in Ephesus make this point. We must put off the old self as it is easily corrupted by deceitful desires. Looking back at Paul’s words to the Corinthian faith community about being a people-pleaser, I can see a bit of self-promotion of super-Christianity. Paul did not suffer from a lack of ego. His admonishments toward humility on a regular basis stand as a witness to this “fault in himself” with which he struggled mightily. But, to think that he could act like those in the world without becoming a part of it is, at least for me, a great stretch of the imagination. Regardless of his “super Christian” promotion, he says of himself “I am the chief of all sinners.” Well, I suppose there is a line of individuals that he is standing in as it is not a line of one! In fact, if we stop to consider what Jesus did on the cross, we could make an argument that He became “chief of all sinners” since Hie put on all the sins of the world past, present and future. “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5.21)

We must be aware of our old and former nature. It is not so old nor as former as many of us would like for it to be. It takes great effort to live in the world and not be of it. In truth, only Jesus of Nazareth was able to do so and that with its own challenges as well. We cannot forget that discussion Jesus had with His heavenly Father: “If it be possible remove this cup from me.” Faced with impending prosecution, persecution and execution, Jesus tremored at the thought of it and the tremendous sacrifice it was going to be to surrender His life to the cross. Yet, He concluded: “Not My will but Yours be done!” Yes, mighty ones of God, we should strive to walk each day a little closer to the full measure and stature of Christ. We should be able to walk more and more as those who carry with them the Kingdom of God in Heaven as we move about the earth. Paul’s instruction on this to the Ephesian community of faith was a call to remember that our old nation falls so easily into temptation. We even pray that God would keep us from temptation. We also pray that we would not fall into the shadows of death as we are in the midst of the world. Don’t you think that is part of the 23rd Psalm as David announced “You have prepared a banquet for me in the presence of my enemies.” See, in the world but not of it. We can live each day as the new self who is provided with protection, instruction and such contribution to meet our daily needs that we should have no desire to fall back instead of stepping forward. Be alert and beware, mighty ones of God, as in the words of Peter, “The devil is like a roaring lion on the prowl ready to devour.“

TODAY’S PRAYER IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD:

Father, before we were conceived in the womb, You had already formed us in Your love and by Your Spirit spoke us into being. Each one of us is blessed with the opportunity of doing right, being good and producing the fruit of the Spirit so that others may be fed the truth of that same love so that the two will become one. It is our soul’s sincere desire to embrace the oneness You have in mind that we would know that we are Your people and that You are our God. Lead us in that discovery of the truth and the manifestation of that love for us all. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.