This week’s devotions are based on Week 8 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
Black and white.
If two issues have clear demarcation between the two lines of activity or thought, you might say, “That’s black and white.”
Black and white thinking.
This has more of a negative connotation in our society today and portrays one that is not “nuanced” in their thinking of matters. If you say morality, belief, behavior is black and white, it might not sit so well with the person with whom you are conversing.
Gray.
Perhaps one could say that our society likes to live in the gray. Living in a way that one things everything is relative or susceptible to interpretation or circumstance. Standards and absolutes are dismissed in favor of individualism or relativism.
The result?
Clarity turns to confusion.
This is true of one’s view of the word of God as well. Perhaps there are a few issues that are open for real debate and discussion, but God has given us his Word in the Bible to give blessing to everyone who reads it and believes it and lives it. However, the Word is very clear in its writing that there is a stark contrast between the things of God and the ways of the world. For the one in whom the Spirit lives, there is an understanding, belief and behavior that stands in stark contrast to the mindset, behaviors and beliefs of one without the Spirit. Paul puts it this way: (Ephesians 4:17-24)
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, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him 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.
Did you catch the contrast?
Our old way of living driven by the old self is characterized by self-indulgence, corruption, and deceitful desires.
Our new self is leading our minds to be conformed to the will of God and our lives to exhibit the righteousness and holiness of God.
Satan loves to confuse and cloud our thinking. It makes the things of the world seem desirable and beneficial. It leads us to sin like a drug addict, loving it more every time and have a lust for the next opportunity.
“You did not come to know Christ that way.” Of course a life with Christ is in stark contrast to the deceit and deviance of the devil’s influence. A life with Christ conforms to the likeness of Christ and the righteousness of God.
Black and white? Just like light and darkness stand in stark contrast, so the life of the Christian will stand in stark contrast to the life of a nonbeliever. But what is also evident is which path provides the greatest blessing…living in deceit and darkness or living in God’s light and holiness? I pray for each of us the obvious difference is truly obvious.
Apply: Continue your chart from yesterday. What ways of thinking and behavior do you notice, especially in yourself, that are prompted more by darkness than light? By light more than darkness?
Prayer: Lord, lead me to see clearly the contrast between life with you and life without you. AMEN.