Having unveiled this beautiful tapestry that God is weaving, this beautiful puzzle God is putting together, Paul has given us one overriding exhortation: Keep it in one piece; don't let anything block the view to its beauty. Let the body of Christ work the way it is supposed to. He then says in Ephesians 4:
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
What could mess up the view? What could mar this masterpiece? What could detract from its beauty? We could. We could darken the spotlight on Christ; we could shame the name of the Church; we could dirty the tapestry by our selfishness, sinfulness, and sensuality. You see, what makes this mosaic so beautiful is the change it involves: changes in lifestyle, changes in relationships, changes in attitudes and motives. What messes it up are dark spots, pulled apart pieces, ruts and rubs worn in by careless thoughts, words and actions. Paul began this chapter with this exhortation: Walk Worthy. He now says: Watch your walk. Are we living in such a way that the spotlight is bright on God's masterpiece? Or are we getting it dirty?
No comments:
Post a Comment