A CHANGE OF HEART
Opening Prayer
My Lord, please give me insight as I take an honest look at myself through the lens of Your Word.
Read Ephesians 4:17–24
Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 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; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How much of your lifestyle is derived from your upbringing and surrounding culture? How much is derived from Christ?It’s as though Paul’s letter has been building up to verse 17: God’s eternal purposes in Christ; the generosity of God’s grace and desire to unite all humanity under Christ; the prayer for love that makes this unity possible; the understanding that true unity requires that we teach the truth and love each other while constantly depending on Christ. So…
Verses 17–19. Now that the Ephesians have changed allegiances, what is needed? (See 2:1–3 again.) What is the relationship between the Gentiles’ lifestyles and thinking? Why do you think Paul specifically picks out sensuality and greed?
Verses 20–24. It is perhaps surprising how central our minds are to discipleship. What are the ways in which Paul wants his readers to work on their thinking? Paul brings another image – when we join Christ’s team, we have new team colors. So throw out the old uniform and rejoice in the new one! Notice how Paul speaks of a transformation of ‘self.’ This is only possible because we have been given a new self, a new life as a result of our new birth (2:5).
Apply
In what ways is your new life in Christ undermined by an old lifestyle? Have you been open with God about this? How can you begin today to allow God to transform old mindsets?
Closing prayer
I praise You, Jesus for the forgiveness You offer, I want to be more like You.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
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