A Radical Change

The Power of His Presence, Daily Devotions, from the Writings of Ray Stedman

READ: Ephesians 4:17-21
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 (Ephesians 4:17).

In the opening verses of the fourth chapter of Ephesians, the apostle has been dealing with the nature of the church and the part each Christian has to play in its operation and growth. But now, with verse 17, he turns to the Christian in relationship to an unbelieving world. Though this account was written almost two thousand years ago, it is impossible to read this thoughtfully without seeing that the world today is exactly the same, and the Christian's reaction to it must be exactly the same.

He says, "You [Christians] must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking." Paul is saying, 'The place to start in living as a Christian is to recognize you must think differently than the world does." He does not start with actions. He starts with the thought-life, with the mind, and he declares that the world's thinking is empty. This is the vital appeal that he makes to Christians, "You must not think like the worldling does, you must not adopt the world's philosophy of living or follow the world's systems of value." Why? "Because the worldling," he says, "lives in futility, emptiness of mind."

Read the rest here.

Editor's note: What is true for the individual Christian, is also true for the church...thinking like the world or following the world's systems to grow your church is no doubt enmity with God.