May 26th | Do Not Live as The Gentiles Do - Their Thinking is Futile

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

DO NOT LIVE AS THE GENTILES DO – THEIR THINKING IS FUTILE

Ephesians 4:17 “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.”   

Gentiles are not a nation or group of people. As the Bible refers to them, gentiles believe many things. What they have in common is that they do not believe in nor follow the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They reject the Gospel message of Jesus. They live according to their own desires and knowledge.   

Prior to the Holy Spirit blessing the ministry of Paul to the Ephesians, they were Gentiles as described in the previous paragraph. They lived according to their own desires as was true of all unbelievers. They did not know the true Triune God. They were unaware of the saving work of Jesus. St. Paul, in today’s devotional verse, reminds them that when they lived as Gentiles, their values, beliefs and practices were futile. 

A futile life is one that is worthless, incapable of producing anything useful. It has no good outcome. Its end is eternal life in hell. Sadly, the futility of the Gentile life is not obvious to those living it. They don’t know any better. They believe the purpose of life is to do the best one can, be as successful as possible, accumulate the things of this world and pass them on to their heirs. Their goal is to leave the world with a good reputation so people remember them positively. 

In Christ, having been buried with Him by your baptism you have received a new life. (Romans 6:3) Your life is anything but futile. By God’s grace through His gift of faith to you in His Son Jesus, your life does not end when you die. Jesus has earned and won for you a life that will never end. In Christ you have an eternal life where you will be with Your God and all who share with you the faith you have in Jesus, His Son.   

1 Corinthians 15:54-58 says that in Christ you have a victorious life: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (futile)” 

Prayer: Thank You Jesus, for the victorious eternal life I have through You. Amen. 

Sing with all the saints in glory, Sing the resurrection song!  
Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story, To the former days belong.  
All around the clouds are breaking;
Soon the storms of life shall cease; In God’s likeness we awaken,  
Knowing everlasting peace. 

Oh, what glory, far exceeding All that eye has yet perceived!  
Holiest hearts for ages pleading Never that full joy conceived.  
God has promised, Christ prepares it;  
There on high our welcome wants. Ev’ry humble spirit shares it,  
Christ has passed the eternal gates. 

Life eternal! Heav’n rejoices; Jesus lives who once was dead.  
Shout with joy, O deathless voices! Child of God, lift up your head!  
Life eternal! Oh, what wonders Crowd on faith; what joy unknown.  
When, amid earth’s closing thunders,   
Saints shall stand before the throne!  (LSB 671)