Ephesians 4:1-3 AMP, "I Therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service, living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meedness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another. Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace."
The next several verses speak of the varied gifts we have been given to use for Christ. These verses are followed with verses 12-15,
"His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
We are further instructed in verses 23-25 to "be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another." Let's continue with 5:10,11,15-17, "And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him]. Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is."
The Word of God contains so much instruction for us, His children to walk out. I pray that my life is a constant proof of what is most acceptable to Him as verse 15 says. How important it is to look carefully at how I walk making certain that I am living purposefully and worthily and accurately, not in an unwise or witless manner. That I am being wise, sensible and intelligent. I must confess that by the end of each day, rarely do I feel wise or intelligent. I can only hope that while the end of the day may find me tired and somewhat weary, I am not unwise and witless. Witless is such a nasty sounding word; very similar to stupid. Nasty! Dear Lord, please keep me from lacking sense. I long to live purposefully and accurately. I ask that You keep me from being unwise and witless. Thank You for Your keeping care. How I trust You! In Jesus' name, Amen
As we begin to enter the season of celebrating Christ's Resurrection, let's examine ourselves. Let's place our hearts and lives under the microscope of God's Word and renew our commitment to walk more closely to Christ than ever before. Have a glorious day in Jesus! Blessed Mama
The next several verses speak of the varied gifts we have been given to use for Christ. These verses are followed with verses 12-15,
"His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
We are further instructed in verses 23-25 to "be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another." Let's continue with 5:10,11,15-17, "And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him]. Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is."
The Word of God contains so much instruction for us, His children to walk out. I pray that my life is a constant proof of what is most acceptable to Him as verse 15 says. How important it is to look carefully at how I walk making certain that I am living purposefully and worthily and accurately, not in an unwise or witless manner. That I am being wise, sensible and intelligent. I must confess that by the end of each day, rarely do I feel wise or intelligent. I can only hope that while the end of the day may find me tired and somewhat weary, I am not unwise and witless. Witless is such a nasty sounding word; very similar to stupid. Nasty! Dear Lord, please keep me from lacking sense. I long to live purposefully and accurately. I ask that You keep me from being unwise and witless. Thank You for Your keeping care. How I trust You! In Jesus' name, Amen
As we begin to enter the season of celebrating Christ's Resurrection, let's examine ourselves. Let's place our hearts and lives under the microscope of God's Word and renew our commitment to walk more closely to Christ than ever before. Have a glorious day in Jesus! Blessed Mama