Something Completely Different

Scripture: 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

Observation: Earlier, Paul discussed the church at Ephesus in the context of Jews and Gentiles, pointing out that Christ has unified Jews and Gentiles. The early Church had Jews and Gentiles, and there was frequent teaching about which Jewish laws to adopt and which were purely part of Jewish law. However, in this verse Paul compares believers to Gentiles and says not to live like them, describing then how they live.

This begs a question: If believers are both Jews and Gentiles, but they are not to live like either Jews or Gentiles, then ... what are we? When put that way, the answer is obvious: We are something completely different.

Application: Am I different?

Do I truly live my life differently than non-believers? Besides two hours on Sundays, do I really behave, act, communicate, live, function, and talk differently than the rest of society?

A part of me says 'yes', but again that is limited to specific times and behaviors as well. There are too many areas of my life for which the answer is 'no'. These are areas for improvement. Any time I am behaving in a way that aligns to the secular culture around me, I need to stop and think about the implications of my thoughts and actions. Secular actions CAN be aligned to God's will and ways (many people take pride in the outward appearance of their homes, yet mowing the lawn at church is a secular action that still serves God's will), but I need to pay attention to actions I know don't align. Watching questionable television shows, or swearing, or getting angry in traffic, or dismissing the ideas of others due to their position ... these are the trappings of secular society.

I need to be different.

Prayer: Lord, make me different. Please set me apart from the world around me. I don't want to behave and speak like others, but rather I want to do all things for your kingdom come on earth. Thank you for providing guidance in all matters, and for the example of Jesus as the model of truly heavenly behavior. May I strive in my heart, body, and mind to be more like him every day. Amen.