Old and New Ways
"Anyone who has been seen stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." Ephesians 4:28
Insight
Today's verse may be easy to look at and think, "Steal? I don't steal things; this verse isn't for me." But within the larger context of the passage that we have been reading this week in Ephesians 4, we can see that this verse is simply an example. Paul is giving this example to encourage the church in Ephesus and us to step into this new identity that we inherit when we choose to follow God. The example Paul used was stealing, but I can think of several other areas in which I need to turn from the old ways and step into a new way.
When I first began walking with God, I knew I needed to stop the "big" things. I stopped going out and living for the moment and ended an unhealthy relationship. I could proudly say, DONE! That was me turning from the old and stepping into the new, right? Well, partially correct. Those things weren't easy to walk away from, but I was unprepared for the everyday reorientation required as I stepped into what it truly meant to be a follower of Christ.
I was not ready to give up gossiping with my friends. I was unprepared for the grace needed to love my upstairs neighbor, who blared music at 3 am. I was surprised that I still had a hard time loving those people that were, well, let's say, hard to love. Turning from the old does require us to get rid of the "big" things. But it is also the small things. It is the everyday moments when someone pulls out in front of you or your kids talk back. It's the moments where you get sucked in and want to argue on social media. In those little everyday moments, God tells us to live differently. God has set us apart; we have been made new and called to be a light. The big things may stand out to us, but God wants it all. Not just the big obvious parts, but also the minor details that we think we can hide. He wants us to take on an entirely new way of life, a practice that begins on the inside and is expressed in our life as God works to reproduce His character in us.
When I'm quick to think that a specific scripture doesn't apply to me, I find it helpful to look at the big picture, avail my struggles, and ask God what He wants to reveal. I do not personally struggle with stealing, but God is indeed still working as I daily reorient to life with Him. He is teaching me to stop grasping at material things and trust Him. He's reminding me that when I think I deserve more, I need to look no further than the humility that Christ displayed on the cross. He helps to recall a name or a story when I'm quick to judge or look down on someone. Maybe you can relate to these specific struggles, or perhaps the example Paul gave of stealing resonates with you. Either way, I believe God has set us apart and placed us into a new way of living that brings abundantly more than we can imagine, simply because we are His.
Reflection
Where do you struggle with obedience in the little things? Why did that area of your life come to mind?
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me, choosing me, and working in my heart. I pray for eyes to see how I still live in my old ways and the confidence to step into the new way of living you have called me to reflect. God, I love You, and I am Yours, use me Lord to collectively help Your name be known. Amen.
Katie Robinson, Children's Ministry Home Coordinator, wrote today's devotional.