via TJC
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. 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. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. Ephesians 4: 17-19
Today we dive into Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, written around 62 AD while Paul was in jail. Previous to this time, Paul spent over 2 years in Ephesus, right in the heart of pagan Greek and Roman worship, calling many out of their deadend rituals into a life with Christ. In his letter, he was looking back on all God had done for the church through Jesus and emphasizing how the faithful’s lives had changed in response. Paul describes their former lives as being devoid of sensitivity, focused only on selfish goals which led to discontentment.
I was recently perplexed by the way a friend of mine interacted with his children. My friend was short tempered and unyielding, only accepting his outcome in the interaction, even happy afterward that he “won that round.” He treated them less as adventurous children and more like servants who needed to obey his authority. He did not understand that his lack of sensitivity could have large consequences later in all of their lives, as the children might come to resent their imposing father and rebel out of spite.
So how do we not fall into this emotionless mentality in our own lives? We must go through Jesus’ sensitivity training. Through Christ, we can internalize the compassion that God has for us and learn to extend that compassion out to everyone around us. Instead of exploiting our relationships to get what we want we become their servants, showing them the depth of God’s love for them through our actions and teaching them in the process.
Daily Battle Order:
Today close your eyes and thank God for the grace he has shown you. Open your heart and ask how you can be as sensitive with those around you as Christ was, always meeting them where they were and calling them to be better
Comentarios