Joshua 24:12-18: A Father’s Role

Very few Bible characters are as challenging as Joshua. His exploits, recorded largely in the book that bears his name, are always exciting and challenging. Among other characteristics, we see him as a family man who took seriously his responsibilities as the spiritual head of his family.

A Godly father’s motivation: 24:12-13: Joshua saw God as a gracious God who had blessed him as well as Israel in so many marvelous ways that it would have been all but ludicrous to do anything less than make God the center of his life and the life of his family. 

God had been so good to the Israelites so Joshua, serving as God’s spokesman, reminded the people of God’s great mercy and provision. Read Joshua 24:12-13

Israel had done absolutely nothing to deserve Canaan, but God gave them the land anyway. Skim through Joshua and see over and over how God worked in miraculous ways as He gave His people the Promised Land. All they did was walk around Jericho and the city was theirs. The Israelites lived in cities they had not built and in homes that that were already there. They ate food they had not planted. The land was so rich in crops, yet the Israelites simply walked in and claimed it as God had promised.

How much more motivation do we have to follow God when we remember God’s great love in providing us with salvation and then blessing us in so many other marvelous ways. Read Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 2:4, 5.

That loving provision is certainly a powerful motivation to lead our children in the ways of righteousness. How can we not want our family to love and obey a God who loves us that much?  

Joshua went on to tell the Israelites that because of God’s love and provision, they need to set Godly standards for their families. Read verse14.

Joshua gave two characteristics of a godly family. Godly families “fear the Lord” and “serve Him faithfully.”  To “fear the LORD” means to honor Him. Fearing God as a family is recognizing who God is and how we are to behave because of that. It means we are seeking to live as God would have us live because He is worthy of that kind of family life. Who He is should be reflected in every aspect of family life from the priorities placed on every aspect of life, to the way we treat one another.

To “serve” the LORD primarily has the idea of worship. We read over and over that the Israelites were not to serve idols but only the Lord (Deuteronomy 4:19). Not to “serve” meant they were not to worship them. Given all God has done for us He is certainly worthy of our worship, which includes, in addition to Sunday worship, family devotions and the rightful place for God in every aspect of family life.

They were do that with all faithfulness. They were not to give God half-hearted worship, but they were to give Him their whole lives. God has always required that kind of commitment and service from His people: Read Matthew 22:37.

For the Israelites to truly fear and serve God, they had to “Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. While God is rich in mercy toward us and wants to bless us and our families He will not do so as long as we want Him plus other gods of our own making. To be the people God wanted the Israelites to be they had to turn away from idols. They had to reject the influence of idols in their lives. In order for us to lead our families properly we need to rid ourselves anything we trust in or depend upon in addition to God. One cannot lead his family righteously if he is knowingly following idols or living in sin. 

Now no one ever suggested that living such a life was going to be easy. Read verse 15. 

All of us, including our children, face many challenges with many contemporary gods vying for our attention. That means that we, like Joshua, must decide who we will follow.

God has never forced people to accept or obey Him. It becomes our responsibility as parents to lead them into the truth and work with them by way of example and instruction so they can make the right choices.

It is not easy but at the same time if we are faithful there is no reason to despair. When truth and lies are placed side by side and the presentation of the truth has been bathed in prayer to the Holy Spirit, then honest hearts will most often choose truth. The challenge is not “How can we raise children in a pluralistic world?” but “Are we placing truth in front of our children?” The Psalmist reminds us of the importance of keeping before our families the truth when he wrote in Psalm 119:9, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” Read Deuteronomy 6:6-7. We must not minimize the importance of making sure our children know the truth of God. 

Note one more truth. A Godly father leads his family by example and by assuming responsibility for the family. Joshua pledged himself to leading his family by making a personal commitment to being the father God wanted him to be. Joshua declared: “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua promised to serve the Lord himself before he pledged to lead his family. Of course, Joshua could not lead his family in doing what was right unless he himself was doing what was right.

There is the important principle to note here. If we want to lead our children into righteousness, we ourselves must seek to walk righteously before God. We find that principle throughout Scripture. Read Acts 20:28, and I Timothy 4:16. We should never minimize the importance of making sure our children know the truth of God in practical ways day by day and not just on Sunday. 

Seeking to live righteously as godly fathers means we must also take the position of spiritual head of the home and lead our family in the right way. Note that Joshua didn’t open his family’s spiritual future to discussion. It was not a majority vote or a compromise to keep everyone happy. Joshua understood that as a man it was his responsibility to determine the direction for his family. God has given to us as men the awesome and exciting responsibility of leading the family.

I don’t believe that Joshua was trying to use his authority simply to dictate to the family nor do I sense he was ordering his wife and kids around.  It was a decision he hoped and prayed would be made as a family because of his example and commitment. He was using his position as father to help his family move closer to the Lord and in turn closer to all God’s love wanted to do for them.

Is there more you can do to lead your family in doing what’s right?  What a powerful gift it would be to your family if you re-committed yourself today to being the spiritual head of the family. God has offered so much to us why would we not want to see our family drawn closer to Him? Let’s recommit ourselves as grandfathers and fathers to that role and moms, recommit yourselves to both allowing and encouraging fathers to have that responsibility. Society today is continually trying to redefine family roles but as Christians we follow not the trends of that society but the Word of the Lord.

Ephesians 4:25-32 Put Off/Put On!   Part 2 Insert

Beginning in Ephesians 4:25, Paul listed 5 areas of everyday life that ought to reflect our walk with Jesus. Paul noted an area that we should avoid and then gave the counter part that should be seen in each of us. We have been looking at it under “Put Off, Put On.”

In verse 25 Paul wrote, “put off falsehood” and then noted, “speak truthfully to your neighbor.” In other words, “stop lying and start being a person whose word can be counted on.”

In verses 26-27 Paul wrote, “In your anger do not sin” and went on to note that even when we exhibit righteous anger, we must not hold onto that anger long enough for it to “give the devil a foothold.” If you have legitimate cause to be angry, be sure that anger does not fester to the point where it lashes where it should not.

In verses 28 Paul wrote that Christians should “steal no longer,” with the counterpart being, “work, doing something useful with their own hands.” In other words, honestly work so you can earn sufficient income that you do not need to steal to meet your needs.

In verse 29 Paul wrote that “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” and instead speak “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” In other words, useyour ability to communicate in a way thathelps and encourages others. 

Finally in verses 31-32 Paul wrote, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Instead of that, Paul’s admonition was to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” The contrast there is obvious.

Returning to verses 28, Paul wrote that they should “steal no longer,” but instead, “work, doing something useful with their own hands.” Paul was dealing with a major problem in his day and while circumstances have changed, the belief that one has the right to take or keep that which belongs to another is part of our culture. “Do not steal” is the 8^th of the 10 commandments so there should have been no reason to even write this. In Paul’s day it was part of the slave culture to assume that since one was not being paid, he was entitled to a share of whatever the owner had. Therefore, a slave felt free to take from the crops or house. Paul told the Christians that honest presented a testimony of the transformation God had brought in their lives.

No Christian should feel the need to purchase a gun and rob a bank, but too many Christians feel it is OK to take supplies from work, over state an expense account, keep anything extra a clerk gives us back by mistake, etc. Paul wrote that Christians should work honestly so they can earn sufficient that they not only do not need to steal to meet their needs but so they can share with those in need. 

The phrase “doing something useful” is literally “doing something good” with “good” denoting the quality of one’s work. Since Jesus noted that only God is good, we assume the work we do should be honoring to God and reflect His goodness. That includes how well we do the work we are being paid to do and the nature of the work. Any job that is not honoring to God or that does not reflect God’s standards is wrong for a Christian. A Christian does not belong in any profession that expects him to compromise his Christian standards.

Paul went on to give an interesting twist on working. He wrote that Christians should work, “doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” We obviously should work to support our family but added to that when we earn more we have more to use to help others. Read Luke 12:13-21. It is easy to miss the point of that parable and assume, like the man Jesus used as an example, a better income means more for me and my family. Paul wrote that a Christian needs to evaluate the priority he puts on things and evaluate his things against the opportunities God gives us to be His instruments of blessing to those in need. Something we can all think about.

In Luke 14 Jesus made another observation on the responsibility we have for the use of our resources. Jesus was discussing those the rich or powerful and in particular who the Pharisees invited to their home. Read Luke 14:12-14. That parable is a challenge to contemplate those we associate with and those with whom we share our resources.

Paul went to turn his attention from our hands to our mouths and wrote in verse 29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” but instead speak “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” In other words, as Christians we should useour ability to communicate in a way thathelps and encourages others. 

The picture Paul used to describe talk that is not wholesome is the same that was used to describe rotten fruit and rotten fish. Rotten food is overall worthless and may actually make one sick. Language compared to rotten food would certainly include taking the name of Jesus in vain. It would also include unkind words, untrue words, gossip, words that are rude, hurtful, or careless. Off color jokes fall into that category as does racist or sexist comments or jokes. A bit later in this same letter Paul listed a variety of behaviors that should have no place in the life of a Christian. Read Ephesians 5:4. 

In place of conversations that are not helpful and in fact are like rotten food, Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Colossae, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.” (Colossians 4:6)Salt was used in preserving food, which is the opposite of letting it spoil or rot. What a difference it would make in our society if people could learn to encourage one another instead of tearing others down. Paul would challenge us to make a habit of encouraging at least one person each day by saying something special to them. We can encourage adults by telling them what their service means, what their smile communicates, how their faithfulness is an encouragement, etc.

On the surface the command to avoid unwholesome talk seems very straight forward but it may be the most difficult of Paul’s challenges to correct. Read James 3:6 and 8. Speaking wholesome words that, as Paul said are, “helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” will take a determined effort on our part but in the end will add significantly to our testimony as Christians to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit within.

Finally, Paul wrote, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Instead of that, Paul’s admonition was to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” The contrast there is obvious.

You’ll have to basically look at the last one on your own but just let me point out that Paul lists 6 attitude or activities that have no place in the life of a believer. He wrote that we are to put off bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Collectively they speak of doing the kinds of things that reflect varying degrees of getting upset or revenge over some way we have been treated. Paul never suggested that we might not feel, or even have in a sense reason to be, justified so he told us to put on forgiveness. 

The reason to put on an attitude and practice of being kind, compassionate, and forgiving is because our Savior has treated us that way. That approach is described in Ephesians 5:1 where Paul urged Christians to “Follow God’s example,” or as many translations have it, “Be imitators of God.” 

Use this overview of Paul’s “Put Off, Put On” to see if there are areas you need to personally work on. It may not be an issue of a major change but the tweaking of behavior that perhaps we have not thought about recently. Our goal as believers should be to constantly be growing in our daily imitation of our Savior. Growth means change and change demands work, but it is worth it. Commit to making any necessary changes in either attitude or behavior or perhaps in both. After all, Paul wants us to make a serious effort to be an imitator of our Savior. 

Memorial Stones: Joshua 4:1-9, 19-24

Memorials such as we celebrate on Memorial Day have always been important not only to societies but to God. For example, when Israel crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land for the first time, God commanded Joshua to pile up a mound of stones at the place. They were memorial stones of God’s great grace, power, and most of all His faithfulness.

Because of a tendency to forget, we need memorials. Read Deuteronomy 6:12. The stones gathered from the Jordan river were intended to help the Israelites remember, as was the Passover celebration.

The reality is that all of us have short memories and the older we get the shorter they seem to be. Some things probably should be quickly forgotten but some things, especially as they relate to God and His blessings on us, should not be forgotten and should be recalled often. Memorials help us do just that. God centered memorials have a variety of uses in addition to helping us recall blessings and celebrate special events.

Memorials enable us to pass on the importance of certain events to our children. God specifically declared that the memorial He told the Israelites to set up as they crossed the Jordan was intended to teach your children. Read Joshua 4:6-7 and then Joshua 4:21-24. 

Not only were God’s memorials important tools to teach each generation important aspects of their faith, but they were also an important tool to reach others with the message. Read Joshua 2:24. Israel was intended to be a testimony of God’s grace and power to the nations around them. Memorials were designed to help with that. Twice in Joshua we read of the impact of how a testimony to God’s power had on others. In Joshua 2 we have the record of Rahab hiding the Israelite spies. Read Joshua 2:10-11 on how a testimony can impact someone.  That pile of rocks that the people of Israel put up stood out from the rest of the rocks in the area. When someone inquired about them the Israelites were to tell the story of the miraculous crossing of the Jordan river. Anyone hearing that story was bound to declare, “Wow, what a powerful God you worship.” 

One of the primary responsibilities of a believer is to be a living memorial to a lost and dying world. Read what Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16. 

As living memorials, we are to evoke questions from others about our life, which of course means that we are to live it in such a way as to cause those who see us to want what we have. 

While the text in Joshua does not spell out all of the details, common sense makes a couple of things obvious. First, the Israelites gathered large stones from the riverbed. Stacked pebbles don’t evoke either wonder or questions. We are called upon to live so boldly for Jesus that our faith and God’s faithful response to it stands out in a world that desperately needs to see a miracle of transformation.

Second, that pile of stones had to be in a place where others would see it. If no one passed by where it was, no one would ask about its meaning. If a church exists just in a building no one will ask about our Lord. Unless the church leaves the building to live as a testimony or memorial out there in the community, no one will know or care what you believe or what our Lord can do for us.

Third, to be a genuine memorial it must endure for a period of time. I am sure that every Israelite saw that memorial on the day they crossed over into the Promised Land and drew strength from the reminder of God’s power as they prepared to attack Jericho and then conquer the land. But God wanted more than that. Read Joshua 4:7. A genuine testimony is one that has a lasting impact. It is a consistent Christian life that stands out as a memorial to God’s saving and transforming power and causes people to marvel at the difference He has made in a life.

The Bible reminds us of the testimony of those who have gone before us and encourages us to bear a similar, lasting testimony to those who follow after us. Read Hebrews 12:1. A goal for every Christian should be to leave behind a testimony that will be a challenge and inspiration to those who follow.

God, knowing the importance of memorials as reminders of His faithfulness, established some for the church. A significant one is the Communion Service.  At the heart of the Communion service is the phrase, “do this in remembrance of me.” Communion is a memorial service and like all legitimate memorials it not only reminds us of God’s love and provision for redemption, but it stands as a testimony to others. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 11:26, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 

Every time we partake of communion, we broadcast to those who are with us what God did for us and what that provision means to us. In the case of communion, it may be in the building so not necessarily a testimony to the community. But it can also be a teaching time for our children as we explain the meaning of it to them. It can also be a testimony to the community. Every one of us will have someone ask on Monday, “So how was your weekend?” How about, in addition to “I mowed the lawn,” we say, “I was in church on Sunday, and we had communion. That was such a special time for me.”

Want to know what God’s most important memorials are? He has two. The first is His church. Read in I Peter 2:9 how Peter described the church.Note that Peter wrote that the people, not the building, are a holy nation intended to declare God’s praises to the world around us. When we cease to be a positive testimony in the community, we cease to be a church, perhaps remaining as a building but not as a church of Jesus.

Of course, since the church is made up of individuals, each of us is a memorial. Read I Peter 2:5. The Israelites collected stones from the Jordan to set up as a memorial, but Peter declares we are living stones designed to be a memorial to our precious relationship with God. What kind of memorial are we?

On a Memorial Day can you think of anything uglier than someone going to a cemetery where soldiers who gave everything that we might be free are buried and knocking over tombstones and painting disparaging graffiti on them? We would all be outraged. Imagine how God must feel when a Christian, who are supposed to be a memorial to His saving love, tramples on that love or hides it so no one can see it.

On Memorial Day we say thanks to the men and women who gave everything for our freedom and to their families for the loss they suffered. Hopefully, we remember them more often than once a year. In addition, remember every day as Christians we should be a memorial to God’s transforming power. Let us be faithful in that testimony.

Ephesians 4:25-32 Put off so you can Put on!

Paul began this section of Ephesians by writing, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”In the verses surrounding that statement Paul wrote about the changes that ought to be a part of every life that is seeking to live worthy of a life in Jesus. Paul was noting that we have been redeemed so we can have fellowship with God and to enjoy that fellowship we need to reflect His character. That character is, according to Galatians 5:22-23, the Fruit of the Spirit. A life still lived as the Gentiles or non-Christians do, means that the Holy Spirit has failed in His task of transforming us. Failure via an improper lifestyle grieves the Holy Spirit as noted in Ephesians 4:30.

Beginning in verse 25, Paul listed 5 areas of everyday life where we ought to reflect our walk with Jesus. Paul noted areas that we should avoid and then gave the counter part that should be seen in each of us. 

In verse 25 Paul wrote, “put off falsehood” and then noted, “speak truthfully to your neighbor.” In other words, “stop lying and start being a person whose word can be counted on.”

In verses 26-27 Paul wrote, “In your anger do not sin” and went on to note that when we exhibit righteous anger, we must not hold onto that anger long enough for it to “give the devil a foothold.” If you have legitimate cause to be angry, be sure that anger does not fester to the point where it lashes where it should not.

In verses 28 Paul wrote that Christians should “steal no longer,” with the counterpart being, “work, doing something useful with their own hands.” In other words, honestly work so you can earn sufficient income that you do not need to steal to meet your needs.

In verse 29 Paul wrote that “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” and instead speak “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” In other words, useyour ability to communicate in a way thathelps and encourages others. 

Finally in verses 31-32 Paul wrote, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Instead of that, Paul’s admonition was to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” The contrast there is obvious.

Paul’s first “Put off so you can put on” is found in verse 25. The word translated “falsehood” would be better understood as “lie.” The stronger command is to “speak” and the word “truthfully” is actually just “truth.” The phrase “speak truth to your neighbor” is a quote from Zechariah 8:16.

We live in a culture that sees little wrong with lying if it is done supposedly for the right reason. Over and over, we hear things like, “Everyone does it.” In thinking about what we call a “little white line” we hear it justified as, “It was the kind thing to do. Americans feel it is legitimate to tell any lie that seemingly allows one to avoid anything that may seem unpleasant. 

While Americans minimize the importance, God does not. Read Revelation 21:8. Why is God so concerned about lying? Keep two truths in mind. First, remember that God is the God of truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” To follow Him is to be truthful. Read Proverbs 6:16-17. 

Second, remember what Jesus said about those who tell lies. Read John 8:44. Satan is a liar and those who habitually lie are following him. Recall that in his first encounter with mankind he lied to Eve, telling her that even if she ate of the forbidden fruit, she would not die as God had said she would. When you tell the truth, you are imitating your Heavenly Father whereas when you lie you are imitating Satan.

When one becomes a Christian, he switches his loyalty from the father of lies to the one who is in every way true and therefore one should always seek to tell the truth. Read Colossians 3:9-10. Lying often seems like the easier way out or even the right thing to do but in the end, it is always wrong. 

Lying, of course, involves far more than simply declaring something that is obviously not true. Lying includes the deliberate decision to not declare that which we know to be true. That is especially true when we are withholding information in a deliberate effort to deceive or mislead someone. Lying includes exaggeration intended to convey an idea that is not true. Lying includes making promises we have no intention of keeping. Often lying and stealing go hand in hand so one lies on a tax form to get more back or lies on an application of a resume to get something he should not have. Lying can come in the form of silence when silence conveys the idea that you approve of something you do not.

What we call white lies are often the most difficult to deal with. We assume that the truth will do more harm than good, so we lie and convince ourselves it is the lesser of two evils. The reasoning seems correct but since when is doing evil, even the lesser evil, acceptable?

Two side issues. Being truthful does not mean you have to tell everything when that everything includes things told in confidence nor does it require you to unload your feeling about someone under the guise of just being truthful. In addition, speaking the truth in the wrong way is not acceptable. Read Ephesians 4:15. 

Read Ephesians 4:26-27.  Again, there are lots of implications to this but let me suggest an area that too many of us seem to fall short in. I know there are Christians who have anger problems and fly off the handle at a neighbor, at the driver in front of them, even at family. We all know that is wrong and I suspect all of us have had to go to someone and apologize for our actions or words we have. On occasions I have had people tell me they have a right to be angry and I would be also if I knew the whole story and what someone once did to them. Good news, you are half right, some things definitely deserve vindication or revenge. The half where one is wrong there is in thinking he has the right to take that revenge upon himself. Read Romans 12:19.  

I would like to point out, however, that while there is an anger that is wrong, anger by itself is not necessarily wrong. In fact, we read examples in Scripture when God became angry. Jesus displayed His anger at the moneychangers in the temple area, at His disciples when they were hindering children from coming to Him and at the Pharisees when they objected to Him healing on the Sabbath.

Anger that is vindictive, undisciplined or stems from bitterness according to verse 31 is wrong and we know that. There are, however, areas where Christians should be angry and are not. Christians should be angry at injustice, unrighteous acts, racism etc. The attitude of live and let live has no place in the attitude of a Christian toward evil. There is a real danger that as Christians, while we do not accept many of the sins of our society as being right, we have not become angry enough about them to stand up and act. It is easier to be silent when an off-color joke is told instead of objecting. It is too easy to ignore racist comments or actions instead of speaking up. Sin of any kind should upset us.

But there is a caveat to even righteous anger. Paul wrote, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Why did Paul write this? Because it is far too easy to let even righteous anger morph into bitterness. Be angry at sin, not the sinner and move on. Speak out against sin but then calm down and act rationally. 

Paul’s challenges are to be honest is our speech and to deal with improper anger while showing legitimate anger at injustice. 

Can others depend upon our word and do they know we hate sin while loving the sinner?

Ephesians 4:17-24

In Ephesians 4:24 Paul wrote, “Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Literally Paul was reminding the Christians in Ephesus that while they lived in a pagan world with standards and practices radically different than those of a Christian, they must maintain their Christian lifestyle. I’ve heard stories of Christians who declare they have never been challenged in their faith by those they go to school with or work with because they never let on they are a Christian. Too often Christians have one testimony on Sunday and another during the week. It is generally not a case of denying one’s faith but of letting the sinful lifestyle of the world dictate how we live instead of seeking to live as God has directed.

Paul introduced this half of Ephesians, according to 4:1, with, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” In verses 17-24 Paul elaborated on that concept, presenting another description of what it means to live worthy of their life in Jesus.

Paul understood the pressures the Christians in Ephesus were under, so he encouraged them to put on or literally wear their faith in a way that it stood out in a way that pleased God and offered a testimony to the world around them. Read Ephesians 4:17.

Not only was Paul insisting they live out what that new relationship with God meant, but he implied that the command to be different comes from God Himself. That being the case, it is essential that we listen to and heed his challenge.

By way of explanation, when Paul used the term “Gentiles” in “you must no longer live as the Gentiles do” he was using a term that the early church used that today we would use “non-Christian” in place of. In the early church the term was used to depict those who were not a part of the family of God via faith in Jesus. Paul was saying, “I insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the non-Christian world does.” 

How did/does the Gentile/non-Christian world live? In verses 17-19 Paul described the sinful factors that controlled their behavior. Paul described the unsaved mind as being controlled by our sinful nature and therefore, controlled by “futility of their thinking,” “darkened understanding,” having “hardened hearts,” and “having lost all sensitivity.” Read Ephesians 4:19. It is not a pretty picture of non-Christian thinking and acting but it is God’s picture of those outside of His saving and transforming faith. 

Here in Ephesians Paul described the life of everyone who has not experienced a personal relationship with Jesus. What is interesting is that in Romans 1 Paul presented the same detailed description of one outside of Jesus and there he expanded on it. Romans 1:18 describes the non-Christian as those, “who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” In Ephesians 4:18 Paul described them as those who “are darkened in their understanding.”  Romans 1:21 describes non-Christians as those whose, “thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” In Ephesians 4:17 Paul wrote of their, “futility of their thinking.” Because of the refusal to acknowledge God and allow Him to transform them, Paul wrote in Romans 1:24, 26 and 28, “God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.” That compares to Ephesians 4: 18 where Paul wrote that they are, “separated from the life of God.” Then in Romans 1:24 and 26 Paul wrote that because of their refusal to acknowledge God “God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts.” Here in Ephesians 4:19 Paul wrote, “They have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”

Paul was not suggesting that every non-Christian lives a lifestyle that can be compared to that of a Hitler or mass murderer, but he was saying that unregenerated individuals all have the same components that are not only present but to one degree or another control the individual. 

If you get the daily news, you constantly get reports of crimes that cause us to ask what can be done. Society is out of control. Some suggest the answer lies in more legislation or stronger gun laws. Others in better education or all we need is training in diversity. God’s answer to our sin driven society is Jesus who alone can transform the inner being so sin no longer controls them. God’s Word presents two options and only two. We can live like the Gentiles, that is those who are ultimately controlled by their sinful nature or we can invite Jesus to be our Savior and begin the process of transformation that will find its completeness in a heaven where there is no sin or temptation to sin.

Paul’s description of the mind and motivation of non-Christians not only explains why sin is so rampant, but it explains why Christians cannot convince non-Christians of the wrongness of many of their actions. Their depraved minds, controlled by Satan, cannot think otherwise. That is why Christians cannot explain to non-Christians that God has a standard for both morality and marriage and any other practice is sin. Man’s sinful minds simply cannot compute that. Non-Christians don’t hear us because Satan has closed their minds and blinded their hearts to what God has to say. The only way to change the behavior of a society that ignores God is to present Jesus to them as a Savior who not only forgives sin but transforms them into the likeness of Jesus.

Paul’s purpose in writing this to both the Romans and Ephesians was to remind us of what their lives were like before being transformed via faith in Jesus. Paul went on to contrast that to what they should be now in Jesus. Read Ephesians 4:20-21.  

Here is where it gets personal for Christians. Paul wrote that the lifestyle of a Christian is to be different from that of a non-Christian. Paul noted that the standard for a believer is that which Jesus both taught and modeled. Read Ephesians 4:22-23. Paul reminded the Christians in Ephesus, and through them us, that God has a different standard that we are to follow.

The question that raises is, “Why, if we have been transformed through our salvation, do we struggle with living the old life to the degree that Paul tells us we have to work at putting off that old nature?” The answer to that is clear. The moment we accepted Jesus as Savior we were forgiven of our sins and promised the blessing of spending eternity with God in His home in new and glorified bodies. The reality is, however, that we do not yet have those bodies or the full transformation that will one day be ours. We still live in bodies that retain some of that old sinful nature. Depending on the degree we have grown in our walk with Jesus that old nature may still influence a major part of our decision-making process. 

You and I are a strange mixture of what we were and what we will be. Initially after our acceptance of Jesus the influence of the old nature is strong. The goal is to grow in our walk with God as we spend time in the Word, spend time in prayer and spend time in fellowship with Jesus which includes worship. Regardless, however, of how much we grow, there will not be a time this side of getting our new bodies that we will not have to be on guard against the tendency to slip back into the old live. When we do that, we will find ourselves accepting the philosophy of a sinful world or feeling the need or desire to act like we did before we made Jesus our Savior.

The challenge is to evaluate our thinking, our attitude, and our behavior by the new standard of being a child of God. It’s a personal challenge because Satan is going to attack us from different directions depending on our strengths and weaknesses. Because he will attack, we are challenged to, as Paul put it, “put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds.”  That is a challenge God wants us to take seriously because in seeking to live as He wants us to, we find blessing and joy.

Ephesians 4:3-16 One Another

In Ephesians 4:2 Paul listed 4 characteristics that are vital for believers to develop if they are going to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Read Ephesians 4:2-3. Verse 2 is a transitional verse that defines what a life worthy of Jesus looks like and a life that leads to unity in the church. 

Unity in Jesus’ church is essential. As a church and those who make it up, it is essential that we are united in the Spirit. Acts 2:42 records that the early Christians, “Devoted themselves to fellowship.” The word used there for “fellowship” is the Greek word “Koinonia” which loosely translated means community. The community they were devoted to was that made up of fellow believers so literally they devoted themselves to each other. There was an intimacy in the early church that enabled them to grow and work together. Read John 13:34-35. 

Then some 25-30 years later Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus and reminded them of the importance of that fellowship and being one in Jesus. Unlike the first churches that were made up primarily of Jewish Christians, the church in Ephesus was made up of Jews and Greeks, of rich landowners and slaves, of educated and those who never had the opportunity to learn to read or write. Unity needed to be worked at more deliberately than it did in Jerusalem but was no less essential if they were to consider themselves to be a church of Jesus.

Read Ephesians 4:4-6. In the verses that follow, through verse 16, Paul detailed some of reasons why unity is important and what it should look like. Paul said we are to be united in Jesus because we have a shared oneness in Jesus, and we have shared values that set us apart from the rest of society. 

Paul wrote that unity was essential if we are to grow in our faith and successfully bear a testimony to the community around us. A church that spends all its time scrapping cannot grow. Paul noted that God has given us a variety of spiritual gifts not so we can compete with one another or feel that some are better than others. Ephesians 4:12-13 details why we have been given a variety of gifts. Read those verses. 

We have different gifts so that collectively we can grow as a church in the Lord. Some are teachers, some have gifts of music, some have gifts of maintaining our facilities, some have gifts of helps in the community. When we the various gifts together in unity we grow, and we have a witness to those around us.

Paul wrote in verse 2 we are to, “bear with one another in love.” In the New Testament there are a number of pictures or commands that picture how we are to relate to one another. Looking at them presents an interesting challenge to all Christians.

The longest list of verses containing a command to “one another” is to “love one another.” This is repeated 19 times plus it was commanded by Jesus Himself. John 13:14 records Jesus telling us to love one another not just once but twice. Read that verse. Christians are to be a group of people known for their love of one another.

How are we to love one another? Jesus said we are to love as He loved. So how did Jesus love? Romans 5:8 records that He loved us even when we were unworthy of that love, while we were sinners. Later in that chapter Paul recorded that nothing can ever separate us from Jesus’ love, and it will never end. His love, according to II Corinthians 5:21, was a sacrificial love that gave up everything for our redemption. I Corinthians 13 is God’s picture of what the love we are to have for one another should look like.

Several “one another” commands tie into one’s love of one another. For example, read Colossians 3:13, Ephesians 4:32, and Romans 15:7. 

(Incidentally, there are some “negative” one another” passages that relate to loving and forgiving. Read James 4:11, James 5:9 and Romans 14:13. 

The list of “one another” commands goes on. Read Hebrews 10:24-25. Four other times we are told to “encourage one another.” The Hebrews 10 passage specifically tells us encourage one another by spurring each other on toward love and good deeds.

We really don’t need to ask why this is important. Jesus told us, according to John 16:33, that, “In this world you will have trouble.” The nature of those troubles may vary from individual to individual but realistically life can be difficult and discouraging at times. One of the ministries we can have within the church is that of encouragement. The ministry of just coming along side and letting someone know you are there can be a great encouragement. Read Proverbs 16:24.  

A favorite Bible characters is Barnabas whose real name was Joseph but was nicknamed Barnabas by the early church, with Barnabas meaning “Son of Encouragement.” A church that is filled with individuals who are known to be sons and daughters of encouragement will be a church that others will want to be a part of. 

Ephesians 5:19 presents another “one another” challenge that is closely related to encouraging one another. Read that verse. Admittedly there is a wealth of implications to that but at least one is to take the time to encourage one another by reminding them of the great promises found in the Psalms and expressed in so many hymns. Who, going through a tough time, will not be encouraged by the reminder that “The Lord is our shepherd” or that we truly have a “friend in Jesus?” 

Another “one another” that is closely related to encouraging one another. Read Galatians 5:13. Jesus made it clear that one who seeks to be first in the kingdom is one who is a servant. Serving one another is a way of reaching out and declaring in practical ways that someone is valued and important to us. Service can be in the form of encouragement or via a helping hand when one needs that extra assistance. Very closely related to that command is seen in I Peter 5:5. Read that verse.  The coming along side in serving one another is not saying, “I can do what you cannot” or “I can do something better than you” but instead we should say in attitude, “Let me help you accomplish your goals because together we can do more than either of us can do alone.”

God’s Word has several more “one another” passages worthy of our thought. I Peter 4:9 reads, “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” In biblical times there were no motels, so Christians cared for fellow Christians who were traveling. Perhaps today Peter would remind us to take a meal to someone having difficulty preparing them or just in need of break and a healthy meal.

The list goes on. Read Colossians 3:16, Romans 12:10 and, Romans 15:14.

What do all of the “one another” passages have in common. They remind us that as a church we are a family, the family of God. Our culture does not tend to greet one another any longer with a “hello brother” or “hello sister” but that is what we are in Jesus. And because we are family, we are responsible for the care of “one another.” That care means we bear with one another, love one another, forgive one another, spur one another on, encourage one another, offer hospitality to one another, teach one another, and we honor one another. 

It’s a big demand but one that God has promised to help us fulfill. The challenge is for us to pick areas where we can do more and then allow God to bless His family through us.

Ephesians 4:2 Characteristics of a Worthy Walk

Read Ephesians 2:1, Ephesians 2:4-5, and Ephesians 3:20-21 

“To Jesus be glory in the church throughout all generations, for ever and ever” is a message we need to always keep before us. Our individual lives as well as the activities of a church are intended to bring glory to the one who created us and then redeemed us when we sinned. Ephesians 4:1 reads, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” 

Ephesians 4:2 is a transition. The chapter opened with a call to bring glory to God by the way we live. Verse 3 is a challenge to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”  In verse 2 Paul listed some of the traits that characterize those seeking to bring glory to God will display but at the same time they are the characteristics essential to unity. Read Ephesians 4:2. Paul listed 4 characteristics that no matter where we are in our walk with Jesus, we can develop further. 

The first characteristic Paul listed was “Be completely humble.” The Greek word is made up of two parts that literally mean, “to think or judge with lowliness.” Many think Paul combined those words, coining a new word himself since there was no exact word for what Paul wanted to communicate in the Greek. There were some words that came close to it but they all carried the idea being mean or ignoble or a person of no repute. The Greeks not only did not have a word for humble, but they detested the very idea. To them it was unnatural to think of oneself in any way but with pride. Slaves were humble because they had no worth but everyone else was expected to be proud of who he was and what he had. The challenge to be humble sets the Christian apart from the world. Humility is a distinct Christian trait.

Not much has changed and probably will not as long as we live in a world temporarily controlled by Satan because he is all about himself. Our culture, just as that of ancient Greece and Rome did, pushes for that which corresponds to pride while minimizing and even disparaging of humility. People are supposed to be proud of themselves and what they have achieved. “Take pride in who you are and what you have done” is a theme of our culture. Winners are praised and losers looked upon as failures. And that attitude can find its way into the church where we brag that our church is larger or better than yours. Christians often think, even if they don’t say it out loud, I got more applause for my presentation than you did etc. 

Humility is a tough trait to define. The moment one declares “I’m humble and proud of it” one has forfeited it. It’s difficult to distinguish between satisfaction in a job well done and pride in what we have done. From a biblical perspective, in place of pride we should have thankfulness to the one who gifted us and enabled us to achieve. If all honor and glory are given to God, then it is difficult to take credit or be proud. Think often of what James was teaching us when he wrote in James 4:6, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Read I Corinthians 1:30-31 and Romans 12:3. 

For Christians, humility is at the heart of how we should view ourselves. Humility is seeing ourselves as God sees us, not as others see us and not even as we see ourselves. Humility is seeing ourselves not in comparison to others but in comparison to Jesus.

Humility was a characteristic of Jesus. Read Philippians 2:5-7.  Because Jesus is our example, it becomes essential that we seek to be humble like Him.  

Luke 9 details a discussion the disciples had among themselves as to who was the greatest. Jesus settled the argument by saying, according to verse 48b, “it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

The second characteristic of an individual who seeks to live worthy of all Jesus has done for them is “gentleness.”Many translations of that word render it “meekness.” Paul put “gentleness” or “meekness” together with humility because one cannot be both proud and meek at the same time.

Too often we associate “meekness” with weakness but in reality “meekness” or “gentleness”is power under control. “Gentleness”is self-control and is the opposite of flying off the handle or quickly becoming being angry. Once again, our example is Jesus. Read how He described Himself in Matthew 11:29 Meekness or gentleness does not mean we do not respond firmly to wrongs or injustice. The gentle Jesus turned tables upside down because the businessmen who were using them were robbing the people. Unlike Jesus, who could do that and not display a sense of pride, our firmness must always tempered with the realization that we too are sinners saved by grace and in no sense better than anyone else.

The Greek word that Paul used here had its primary use in describing a soothing medication that one would put on a sore to alleviate the pain or discomfort. It was also used to describe a soft, soothing wind, and in the training or domesticating of a wild animal. Paul used it in his second letter to Timothy to tell him that when he instructed those opposed him and the gospel that he must gently instruct them (II Timothy 2:25).

The third characteristic of one who is truly seeking to live worthy of our faith is patience. That word is sometimes translated as “longsuffering.” In I Corinthians 13:4 Paul described love as being patient. (In that same verse Paul added, “love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” That covers most of the characteristics of walking worthy listed in Ephesians and walking worthy is a display of our love for Jesus.)

There is no area of life where more patience is not needed. 

If Paul had spelled patience out in more detail, I suspect he would have suggested we learn to count to 12 instead of 10, that we seek to develop a long fuse instead of a short one and maybe we learn to relax a little more in those circumstances that impact us negatively or when with people that annoy us. That should be the way every Christian is described. We are to have patience.

Paul’s final trait listed in Ephesians 4:2 that should characterize us when we are seeking to live worthy of all Jesus has done for us is “bearing with one another in love.” The Living Bible paraphrase translated this as “making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.” The best explanation for that is the old acronym for JOY: Jesus first, Others second and You last. Bearing one another is taking the mixture of people we call church and making them truly family.

Paul’s challenge to, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” was his challenged the Christians in Ephesus because they were to live in a way that was worthy of the salvation Jesus provided and in living that way, they would bring glory to God and encourage a unity in the church that is essential for the world to see. It is the same for us today.

Easter 

There is no doubt about it, Easter was by far the worst day of Joseph’s life. To make matters worse it followed almost immediately after what had been one of his best days ever. As best we can tell Joseph was about 45 years of age and had, via a wise marriage, moved up the corporate ladder to the top position. You probably know Joseph better by his family name, Caiaphas. 

Joseph or Caiaphas hated Jesus for a variety of reasons. His difficulty with Jesus stemmed from the fact that the two had radically different theological positions. Caiaphas was a follower of the branch of Judaism known as the Sadducees. The Sadducees denied that there was any kind of afterlife. Jesus taught that He was the resurrection and the life and that whoever believed in Him though he were to die, would still live. 

More basic than theological differences, Jesus constantly declared that the religious leaders were misleading the people by establishing rules and regulations that God never intended them to insist were essential. Read in Matthew 23:33 what Jesus said about them. As the popularity of Jesus grew the fears of the religious establishment grew also. Caiaphas and the other religious leaders did all they could to discredit Jesus but time and time again it backfired on them. Questions designed to get Jesus in trouble with either the Romans or the Jews included things such as “Do we pay taxes to Rome?” It seemed like a foolproof way to trap Him, but it didn’t work.

The Pharisees went out of their way to keep peace with Rome. Arriving in Jerusalem amid calls for Him to be their Messiah certainly did not set well with them. The High Priest had to meet with Roman approval and a key factor in them accepting the High Priest was his ability to keep his people under control. Read John 11:45-51

John 18 records the arrest of Jesus and being taken first to Annas (18:13) and then to Caiaphas (18:24). Matthew gives us a description of Jesus’ time before him in Matthew 26:57-60. The plan to use false witnesses failed. Finally, Caiaphas personally challenged Jesus to declare if He was the Messiah. Jesus neither confirmed nor denied that He was but His answer infuriated Caiaphas. Read Matthew 26:65-66 for His response to Caiaphas.

Jesus was taken to Pilate whom Caiaphas asked to sentence Jesus to death. Read Matthew 27:20. Jesus was beaten and mocked and then taken out to a place called Golgotha where He was crucified.

It seemed by midday on Friday that Caiaphas’ plan had worked. Jesus was on a Cross about to die. By 3 that day the soldiers declared Jesus was dead. Caiaphas could relax, his plan worked and the threat of Jesus to him and to the nation was over. With that Caiaphas went home rejoicing. Jesus of Nazareth would no longer be a problem. The Romans had ensured that He would no longer influence anyone. Caiaphas got the last word, or so he thought.

I suspect he had a very restless night.  The next day was Saturday or the Sabbath, and one was not supposed to do much.  Caiaphas was uneasy. Read in Matthew 27:62-64 what he did that day. 

Then came the first day of the week. For the Jews it was the beginning of a new work week. If Caiaphas slept in that morning, the women who were close to Jesus did not. Matthew 28 records that early that morning the women rushed to the tomb to finish the task of burying Jesus. His body would need more spices and be wrapped formally for the grave. Read in Matthew 28:5 what the angel told them. For the followers of Jesus that was an incredible announcement that would forever change their lives. It was not, to put it mildly, good news for Caiaphas.

Read Matthew 28:11. Wouldn’t you like to have a picture of the look on Caiaphas’s face when he got that news? His worse fears had become a reality. I am sure we know what he did next. Caiaphas met with some of his associates, and they agreed to pay the guards to make up a story that the Disciples had stolen His body. Matthew records that the guards accepted the money and told that story. 

I can’t begin to imagine how the mind of Caiaphas worked. He knew that the Disciples of Jesus had not stolen His body, yet he refused to accept the truth that Jesus was alive. He stubbornly lived as if Jesus was dead. Acts 4 records that sometime after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus the temple guard arrested Peter and John for, according to verse 4, “proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” The temple guards put them in jail overnight. Read Acts 4:5-6. There was Caiaphas once again. 

In that encounter Peter preached Jesus to them, declaring that while the religious leaders crucified God raised Him from the dead (4:10). In the end all Caiaphas and the other religious leaders could do was threaten them and let them go (4:21).

I find it unbelievable that after all the evidence he had, Caiaphas still refused to accept the truth that Jesus was alive and because of that everything should be different. He had so much evidence that Jesus was who He said He was, yet he refused to believe. Even with the first-hand testimony of the guards and individuals like Peter who saw Jesus alive, he still refused to believe.

Think about all Caiaphas missed because for him, the resurrection never occurred. He missed living with the reality that Jesus is alive and because of that His promise to never leave or forsake us can be a day-by-day reality. Jesus promised that we can, “Come unto me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” He promised, “I am with you always” and “I will never leave you or forsake you” On other occasions He promised, “I am the good Shepherd who cares for His sheep” and “If anyone drinks of the water, I will give him he will never thirst again” As far as Caiaphas was concerned Jesus was still dead, so none of those promises were possible. 

Think about the fact that Caiaphas would never be able to know the strength we have because our Savior lives. A dead person, even a dead Savior, would not be able to strengthen us, or encourage us, or give us peace or help us overcome temptation, or guide us etc. The reality Caiaphas never understood is that He lives and because He lives, He can do for us everything He has promised to do.

The most important things we have here and now come from Him, and Caiaphas never knew any of them. Our risen Savior give us the strength to live each day, the help to overcome difficulties and resist temptations, the peace that passes understanding in situations that otherwise defy any sense of peace, the joy that fills our hearts and souls when seemingly everything around us is falling apart and still we know He is in complete control. These are the important things in life and for Caiaphas none of them were a reality.

The Apostle Paul declared that if Jesus had not been raised from the dead, we would be most miserable. Caiaphas could only know that miserableness. The truth that He lives changes the way we view death and eternity. On the Cross the cause of death was dealt with as the sin that brought about death was cared for. When Jesus arose from the dead the victory was formalized, but not for Caiaphas. Because he refused to believe those provisions were never his. Jesus made it clear that the provisions of the Cross were for “whosoever believes” and Caiaphas did not believe so those benefits were not available to him.

Today, if you are a Caiaphas who insists Jesus is either dead or of no relevancy to today, or a Caiaphas who has never made a personal commitment to Jesus, think about the evidence that Jesus was truly raised from the dead. There is so much evidence for the truth that He arose from the dead that no honest person can deny it. There is no better time to make Jesus your Savior. 

For those of us who have made that decision, contemplate all we have because we did see the truth that Caiaphas missed, Jesus is alive and because He is, He is with us today and we will be with Him for all eternity. Then contemplate all the promises Jesus made and can keep because He lives.

What a day to celebrate and what a message to share with those who like Caiaphas still do not believe Jesus is alive.

 Crowds on Palm Sunday

One way to make Palm Sunday more meaningful and personal is to examine the various groups of individuals who were part of that exciting day 2000 years ago. 

First, let’s look at the setting for that specular event. Historians tell us that on Palm Sunday, which was the beginning of the week of Passover for Jews, thousands and thousands of people would have gathered in Jerusalem. While the celebration of the Passover was certainly high on the mind of everyone, it was also a festival time. Everyone able to attend Passover in Jerusalem found it to be a fun time as well as a spiritual experience. 

That year the celebration had an additional component to it. There was a strong expectation that the Messiah may make His appearance. The people desperately longed for the promised Messiah to set them free from Rome. A man called Jesus just might be that Messiah. Jesus had previously healed the sick and commanded the demons to obey Him. Recently He actually raised someone from the dead, or so it had been reported. Read John 12:9. If Jesus could raise the dead, He certainly had the power to lead a revolt against Rome and set up a Messianic Kingdom. 

With that setting in mind think about those who were in Jerusalem that day, and ask yourself how they might represent people today.

One group that was obviously present that day were the Roman soldiers. We have no idea how many soldiers were stationed in Israel at that time but for the Passover celebration every one of them was on duty in Jerusalem. Over the years Israel had been somewhat of a problem to Rome so to ensure no insurrection occurred, Rome stationed extra soldiers there. With talk of a Messiah on the increase, Roman authorities would have made sure all soldiers were on duty.

I wonder what they thought that day. Most were hoping for a peaceful week. No one wanted violence, although they were prepared for it if it came. I suspect their attitude was, “Let them enjoy the celebration just don’t get too carried away with it.” That is often the attitude today of folks. Let Christians enjoy their celebrations and worship but keep it low keyed and certainly don’t let it flow out into the community in a way that appears to be fanatical. Go about your worship and get excited but don’t go overboard. 

We can only wonder what those Roman soldiers thought when they saw Jesus arrive on a donkey. When a conquering General returned to Rome from battle he was given a parade and rode into Rome on a marvelous stallion draped in gold. Compared to that, the entry of Jesus on a donkey was less than a joke. Their feelings that Jesus could not lead a serious rebellion would get more realistic as the week went on. Before the week was over Jesus was crucified at their hands. That had to have settled it for the soldiers. Of course, that was not the end of the story but for too many in our society that is the end. Without a resurrection they are right. The resurrection changed all as it always does for anyone who truly believes Jesus is alive. If there was no resurrection, then indeed as Paul wrote in I Corinthians 15:12-20, we are most miserable. But He is alive. The soldiers couldn’t have imagined that on Palm Sunday so as far as they were concerned let the people celebrate and let us go back to our barracks.

There were others present that day beside the soldiers. There were lots of religious leaders looking on. Read John 12:19. To appreciate this comment by the Pharisees one has to put himself in their place. They were deeply religious, attending services whenever one was being held. They were committed to living as the Law of God said they should. If there was something else they needed to do to please God, they were more than willing to do it. They were respected and held up as those in authority. They enjoyed the prestige that came with their position. The crowd could be interested in what Jesus might say, but they did not need Him. Beside, the Pharisees had done all they could to keep peace with Rome so the last thing they needed was talk of a Messianic kingdom.

The position of Pharisee no long exists but we all know that their attitude is all around us. There are many today who believe they are good enough to make it and do not personally need Jesus. In their minds they think we are wrong to declare one must actually make a personal commitment to Jesus to be saved. Like the Pharisees of old they believe because they are good, honest and generous they are all set. Why go chasing after Jesus in this post-Christian era? 

Many in our community who, like the Pharisees, ignore Jesus because they believe that in making Him a vital part of their life, they fear their friends will think less of them and they will lose the popularity and façade of respectability they so desperately want. Realistically, the world no longer looks at Christians the way it did a generation ago. If you make Jesus a vital part of your life and the life of your family, you are likely to be made fun of, if not left out of the life of the community. In the long haul many Christians are respected by the community if they are consistently living the way God wants them to but, that is not going to be the case early in one’s walk with Jesus. Christians are depicted as a relic of the past. Like the Pharisees many ignore Jesus to ensure their sense of importance isn’t minimized. 

In addition to soldiers and Pharisees there were thousands and thousands of ordinary individuals present that day. Those individuals made up the majority of the crowd that welcomed Jesus into the city. Some were there just to see this Jesus everyone was talking about. There are those today who worship Jesus so they can participate in the activities and say they were a part of the crowd that went to church. 

Undoubtedly there were some there that day simply for the fun and festivities. They went with their friends and family just to have a good time. There are those today who attend church on Palm Sunday or Easter just because of the atmosphere of the day. Church cannot get much more upbeat than on Easter when we celebrate the resurrection. The hymns, the Scripture and the sermon are all positive. Everyone’s in a great mood. Many dress up especially nice and after church they all go out to eat together. There’s no problem with that if that is not the only reason one wants to be in church. Jesus came to give us an abundant and fun filled life. The message of the Bible is that Jesus wants us to enjoy that life more than simply at an occasional parade but He wants us to make Him the center of every activity all day every day. 

Some in that crowd were there, I’m sure, hoping to see Jesus perform a miracle or do something spectacular. I’ve known individuals who attended church because a loved one was seriously sick and they hope that by showing a little interest in God He would heal that person. I’ve seen the same with individuals who need something like a job. They hoped that if they gave God a little of their time He would reciprocate with a miracle. The problem with that group is that when they don’t get what they want, when they want it, they line up to shout, “Crucify Him.”

There was another group there that day that can too easily be missed in our study of Palm Sunday. Read John 12:20-2. That group was made up of Greeks who wanted to see Jesus. We can all learn from them. They were not the individuals one would have expected to be at a Jewish festival, but they wanted to see Jesus. They were not the individuals one would have expected to be at a Jewish festival or parade, but they wanted one thing above all else, they wanted to see Jesus. What a powerful reason to go to church not only on Palm Sunday and Easter, but every Sunday.

The real issue every week is, “Why do I go to church?” Do I go hoping my presence will encourage God to do something nice for me?  Do I go for the excitement of the day? Or do I go to church so I can see Jesus? That is the real reason we should go to church. Enjoy each worship service but remember church is primarily about seeing Jesus in a fresh and deeper way.

Ephesians 4:1 Live a life worthy of your calling!

Today we begin the second half of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Chapters 1-3 examined the theology of being a Christian. Read Ephesians 2:1; 2:4-5 to see what we were and what we have become in Jesus. Paul presented the glories of our redemption and one might think that was a good place to stop. Paul’s message, however, did not stop there because the message of the New Testament is not just about what God has done for us but includes what God wants us to do in return. Ephesians 3:1 includes the words “then, I urge you.” “Then” is the equilivent of the word “therefore” that we have seen often in Paul’s writing. It is a word that denotes that what is about to be said is based on what has already been presented. If the first 3 chapters detail all God has done for us, Ephesians 4-6 detail what our response to that should be. In a sense this reads, “Now that I have told you all that God has done for you, let me tell you what He expects of you in return.” 

Read Ephesians 3:1. Paul began his appeal by noting that he was “a prisoner for the Lord.” Paul described himself that way in the opening verse of chapter 3. The interesting thing about the way Paul wrote that is that it expressed 2 different ideas, both important to Paul. Paul saw himself as both a prisoner of and a prisoner because of Jesus.

Paul was a prisoner of Jesus because he had totally committed himself to Him as a bond slave or servant so that his whole life was wrapped up in what Jesus wanted him to do. In addition, he was literally a prisoner in Rome because of his outspoken testimony to who Jesus was and what Jesus offers to mankind. It is that second aspect of his self-description that is important to his plea that Christians “live a life worthy of the calling.” Paul did not describe himself as a prisoner in Rome to either brag or gain sympathy but to point out a reality of seeking to “live a life worthy of the calling.” While the Christian life can be characterized asone whereby we enjoy the riches God showers upon us, it is also a demanding life that can bring with it a cost. 

Paul was expressing the idea that following Jesus, while leading to an eternity of blessings, is at the same time demanding. For Paul 2000 years ago the challenge was and always will be to, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:1, “live a life worthy of the calling.”  Paul knew that following Jesus can and probably always will be costly, but it is the life God wants us to live. 

Notice that Paul did not suggest that as Christians we “live a life worthy of the calling” but he urged us to. Paul was literally begging his readers to live what they believe. The word and tense he used for urge implies intense feeling or a strong desire. Paul was about to set forth God’s standard of living. He was not giving us the option of take it or leave it but was insisting it was the standard expected of everyone who calls him or herself a Christian. 

The responsibility of every believer is to challenge one another and certainly the challenge of every parent and grandparent to challenge their children. That challenge needs to go forth in a loving way, but it must be continually stressed. 

The phrase “live a life” speaks for itself. Many translations use the word “walk” which in the New Testament always meant one’s daily life. In Ephesians Paul used the same word or “live” twice and in so doing noted the options we have. In Ephesians 2:2 he described our lives before we became believers and the way we “used to live when you followed the ways of this world.” Here in Ephesians 4 Paul used the word “live” to describe the way we are to behave as believers.

Think about what makes up life. Life is made up of a wide variety of parts ranging from our relationships to our work. Life is certainly what we do on Sunday morning, but it is also what we do on Saturday night. Life includes what we do for work, but it also includes how we interact with those we work with. Life consists of going out to eat but, life also consists of how we treat the waitress who serves us. Life includes how we relax, but it also includes what we watch and read. Life includes the opinions and commitments we have but life also includes how we treat those who differ with us. Life is made up of every detail of our daily existence. Life is action and attitude and even inactivity.  Every part of every day is life. 

Some parts of life are exciting, some of it mundane. Some of life is filled with blessings and some of life consists of hard times and losses. It is all life and every part of it should be lived in a way that is worthy of our relationship with Jesus. 

When Paul wrote that we should seek to live a life worthy of our calling he used a word that seems to have lost its original meaning. The word Paul used was commonly used to describe scales that were used to weighed something out. These days we seldom use scales in everyday life, depending instead on everything being properly weighed out in advance with the weight properly listed on the product. In Paul’s day everyone had some sort of home scale used all the time to measure things. The weight on one side was to balance the product on the other side. Paul was urging the Christians to be sure their practice balanced their theology. 

Of course, God doesn’t determine our eternal destiny by how our good balances out against our sins. God tipped the scales when He took all our sins and balanced them out with His death on the Cross so when we accept Jesus as Savior we are seen as redeemed.

As wrong as we know the thinking of our good balancing our wrong, we often fall for the lie that somehow that is how it works. Satan loves to tell us that is the way God views us. Satan says, “Ok, maybe you shouldn’t be doing that but, overall, you are trying and doing just fine. Most of the time you are kind to people so blowing up once in a while is understandable.” Know what that is? That’s suggesting that scales are important so what you put on one side is not important so long as the other side balances properly. 

The picture Paul presents here is that there is a scale identified as “living worthy” but what we are to put on one side is all God has done for us, what he referred to as “the calling you have received.” On the other side we are to put the way we live “life.”  Obviously, we can never equal or balance out the blessings we have received from God by the things we do, which is why Paul stresses the importance of grace. Our inability to balance out the life we live, and the blessings of God, does not negate our responsibility to recognize our responsibility to do all we can to balance them as closely as possible.

We are to do that because of “the calling you have received.” The word “calling” is in the passive tense in Greek, which simply means that we had nothing to do with it. Our “calling” was all God’s work, a truth we have noted several times already in this letter. Since God has called us unto Himself, He has the right to determine how we should live. 

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians begins with the note that we have been called to be holy (1:1), truth repeated 3 more times in that 1^st chapter (4, 12, 14). We have been called to be set aside as different for God and chapters 4-6 detail what that holy life should look like. 

In Ephesians 1:18 we are told that we have been called to a “hope,” a hope described in that same verse as knowing “the riches of his glorious inheritance.” In Ephesians 2:20 we are told that we have been called to be “fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.” Because we know the one in whom we believe and because we know He has redeemed us to spend eternity with Him, we have an assurance and peace the world can never know. Because we know we belong to a new family and a new community of believers we should want to behave in so far as possible the way that honors both being in the family of God and members of His church.

That’s Paul’s challenge to each of us as believers.