May 27th | Do Not Live as Gentiles Do - They are Darkened in Their Understanding

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

DO NOT LIVE AS GENTILES DO – THEY ARE DARKENED IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING   

Ephesians 4:18 “They (Gentiles) are darkened in their understanding . . .”  

Gentiles, in their pagan worship and their effort to bond themselves with their god, are unable to perceive and thus unable to understand the futility of their worship. They do not perceive that every time they worship in their pagan temple, following its rituals they are breaking the very first Commandment God gave from Mount Siani. While they believe they are intimately joined to their god, they are actually separated from the true God. 

You live in a culture that focuses upon human effort to achieve peace with one’s conscience and their natural knowledge of God. In this culture of trying to live decent and even generous lives their striving for perfection is delusional. They cannot measure up through their personal efforts to appease God for their sins and shortcomings. The First Commandment is few in words but it does demand that all human beings love the Lord God with all their heart, soul, mind, and spirit.   

The Ephesians were building a house of cards. Many today are doing the same. Paul’s words in today’s devotional verse draw you to the truth of God’s Word that Christ alone is the only object of your faith. Salvation is given to men through no one but Him. (Acts 4:12) Whoever believes in Him will be saved. (John 3:16)   

The idols of the world are simply that, false gods. They offer no hope or help. The worship of them is futile. Only Jesus Christ and faith in Him is the way to everlasting life. (John 14:6) Those without Christ are “dead in their trespasses and sin.”   

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) By God’s grace you live in the Light of Christ not as the Gentiles do in their darkened understanding.  

Prayer: Thank You Jesus for Your light that has driven away the darkness of sin from my heart. Amen. 

Light of Light, O Sole Begotten Radiance of the Father’s face,
Word made flesh, who live among us Full of truth and full of grace.
Shine upon our human darkness; Pierce the night that shrouds our race. 

Word eternal, through Your being God created all we see,
When the empty spaces echoed With the Father’s “let there be. . .”
Light and life burst from the glorious Power of Your majesty.” 

Still Your brooding Spirit hovers Over chaos, dark and deep,
Calling out with invitation “Rise awaken from your sleep;
Christ the Lord will shine upon you And from death your soul shall keep.  

Come, Lord Jesus, by Your Spirit In our hearts Your work begin,
Bring the healing restoration Of Your image lost by sin;
From Your fullness all receiving Grace on grace, new life within!  (LSB 914)