Chapter 4 verse 20

A few years back I started reading through the New Testament twice a year. I am not sure why, but it is humors and even surprising to me how after so many times of reading through the same words, I am still blown away by passages that I read. Although, this isn’t an everyday occurrence, it happens enough to remind me that the book I hold in my hand is not just another book on my list of books to read. It’s living and breathing and the more I read it, the more it grows and deepens my understanding of what life truly is about, Jesus Christ.

Today’s chapters were from Ephesians. I once heard a pastor reference this book, he spoke on how the concepts found throughout the book of Ephesians were all centered on relationships. So of course now every time I read it, I too come to the same conclusion. For example, three years ago I was going through a rough time with a friend. These verses drew me back to the unity and need to put prayer first in all of my relationships. There was nothing I could do to “save” my friend from the path they were heading down and through Paul’s gentle reminders to bring it back to God, I was able to bring perspective into what my role was in the friendship.

And then another read through revealed to me the importance of remembering the unity amongst the body of Christ. We all have gifts and talents that have been given to us by God, these are to be used to build the body up. As we allow the unity of Christ’s grace and mercy to take root in our hearts, we can accomplish much.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

As each person comes into the family of Christ with unspoken expectations there is a strong chance that we will disappoint each other. We aren’t perfect and although we strive to be, we wont get there in this life. Sorry to disappoint you, but I will probably screw up and give you plenty of opportunity to be pissed at me at some point in time. However, it’s through these passages that my heart is turned towards forgiveness and commitment to walking life with you.

I am sure that I could continue to look through my journals and find more examples to prove my point that God has used this book tremendously in my life, but that’s not why I am writing today. Today I am writing to encourage you to get back into the arena. Put on those socks and pull out those running shoes, because it’s time to pick up where you left off. Don’t stop here and allow the “knowledge” that you acquired in your youth or even yesterday to sustain you. Get a fresh word from God from the only true source we have, His word. Use it to learn how to live, how to love, and how to learn what it means to be more like Him. Ephesians 4:20 points about that we did not learn Christ by walking as children with hearts set on evil and dark things.

 “But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the Spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

Praying that your eyes will be opened to the truths found in His word and that you too would fall madly in love with our Mighty King, Savior, and Groom. 

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