How we need to walk...

Walk not as others walk- in the vanity of their mind.

Eph 4:17  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind

Vanity of their mind. This says  much about how so many people choose to live. They believe in their own minds, their own ideas, their own beliefs and allow their vanity to rule them. The belief they have the superior mind ignites that vanity. Their ideas are considerably more lofty than others. The idea that others could truly have better minds than theirs is preposterous. Vanity of the mind truly keeps people from God, because they are not willing to believe there is any one, God included, as wonderful at they are.

Eph 4:18  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart

Their understanding is DARKENED.  Their ability to understand is cut short by their own vanity. They are alienated, the are cut off from the life of God because of their choice to be ignorant of God. Their hearts are BLIND, their vanity cutting their spiritual sight off!

Eph 4:19  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Past feeling, past being able to live as God intended, as God would have us live through the Spirit.  They've chosen lasciviousness- to fulfil their lustful desires, their selfish cravings and to do so with all uncleanness and greediness! Those who choose NOT to walk after God choose a life of self-serving, and even in their seeming selfless pursuits the inward pride and refusal to believe in their Creator spoils all that pretense of selflessness. They believe their power to be selfless comes solely from themselves, not at all from God. They vainly believe they are too superior to believe in God, and their good works, their selfless acts are proof enough God doesn't have to exist because they can do good, selfless acts without Him. Their selflessness is poisoned and they can't even comprehend this. 

This isn't ME making all this up! This isn't ME degrading others specifically pointing fingers.  This is GOD, this is God's word telling us - Walk not as others walk- in the vanity of their mind. And we cannot concern ourselves with who those others are individually, but rather we have to WALK OUR OWN WALK, careful NOT to walk the walk of vanity in our minds but the WALK of the SPIRIT. We can't concern ourselves with walking the walk of the world.

Eph 4:20  But ye have not so learned Christ;

Eph 4:21  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

Eph 4:22  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts

We have to put OFF our old selves which walked with the world and if we are NOT putting off the old world we are NOT God's, but deceived. If we are seeking constantly to fulfill our selfish lusts in what ever form they take, if fulfilling those lusts takes precedence in our lives we are walking right along with the world in the vanity of our minds. God sees through any disguise we try to put on, He looks right to our hearts. We need to put off the old unregenerate self, the person we were before accepting Christ- or re-accepting Christ, before we truly desire to live for the LORD and not self. That old self is corrupted by lusts and will constantly seek to reemerge. We must...

Eph 4:23  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

We must be RENEWED in the SPIRIT of our minds!  This is a clear statement of fact that we must engage our higher power of thinking, acknowledging our need of renewal .  WE must constantly be renewed just as we 'die daily' we are 'born again, renewed' daily.  This is a daily conscious thought to live through the Spirit. We must...

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

We must PUT ON the NEW MAN- created in the righteousness and holiness of GOD!

Eph 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

PUT AWAY LYING! Speak TRUTH!

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

BE angry - WITHOUT SIN!  Not letting the day end on any wrath we might have.

*******  More on this tomorrow by the grace of  our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!!

All through HIS love!

Amen.