This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Building Together: “Some Things Have to Go!” (WATCH HERE)
Ephesians 4:17–19 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.
Paul begins this section of Ephesians with a strong warning. He tells Christians that they must no longer live as the Gentiles do, “in the futility of their thinking.” The word futility describes something empty, worthless, or unable to accomplish what it promises. Paul is not saying that people themselves are worthless. He is saying that a way of thinking that leaves God out of the picture ultimately leads nowhere.
That is an important word for us because we live in a world filled with ideas that sound good. We hear that happiness comes from getting what we want, that truth is whatever we decide it is, that we should follow our hearts, and that we should define ourselves however we choose. Some of these ideas may sound reasonable. Some may even contain pieces of truth. But Paul reminds us that not every way of thinking leads to life.
Think about walking into an older home that has not been updated in decades. You might see worn carpet, outdated cabinets, faded wallpaper, and fixtures that no longer fit the house. Whether you think those things need to go depends on what you believe the house should look like. If you love the way things looked in the 1970s, you might keep them. If you have a different vision, you start reaching for the crowbar.
The same thing happens spiritually. What we think determines what we believe needs to change. Our sinful nature often becomes comfortable with things that God calls us to leave behind. We can begin to think that something is acceptable simply because it is common. We can become so accustomed to the world’s way of thinking that we no longer recognize how far it has moved from God’s truth.
That is why Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” God does not leave us to figure out truth on our own. He gives us His Word. He reveals Himself in Christ. Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). God’s Word gives us a true foundation for understanding ourselves, our relationships, our purpose, and the world around us.
This renewal is not something we accomplish by trying harder. It is God’s gracious work in us through His Word. The Holy Spirit uses that Word to expose our sinful thinking, lead us to repentance, and continually point us back to Christ and His forgiveness.
So today, don’t simply ask, “What am I doing wrong?” Ask, “What is shaping the way I think?” What voices are influencing you? What ideas have become so familiar that you no longer stop to examine them against God’s Word?
Demo Day begins in the mind. Some old thinking needs to be torn out so that Christ can continue building something new in us.
Reflect
- What influence in your life most shapes the way you think and view the world?
- Is there an attitude or belief you have become comfortable with that God’s Word is calling you to reconsider?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for the times I have allowed the thinking of the world to shape my heart more than Your Word. Renew my mind through Your truth. Help me recognize what is futile and empty, and give me wisdom to see what is good, true, and pleasing to You. Keep me rooted in Christ and His promises, and help me live each day according to the new life You have given me. Amen.