Ephesians 4:17-19 And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They’ve refused for so long to deal with God that they’ve lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can’t think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.
20-24 But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything--and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. 25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
28 Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen 30 Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. (Message)


Ephesians tells us that the old way of life and everything connected to it has to go! No more following the crowd. Our culture has gone out of it's way to remove God from our daily lives. In doing so, it has lost touch with what is real and true. As Christians, we cannot live that way.  Just as in the city of Ephesus 2,000 years ago, our culture today is addicted to every story of perversion.  There is no way for us to completely escape from it, but we  cannot participate in it. In Christ we have a new way of living life; a new set of standards.

Let's talk for a minute about the way we talk to each other. I am shocked at so many things I see people post on Facebook, even by those claiming to be Christian. Before we post a status on Facebook, tweet, comment, send an email, speak to our spouse, friends, or to our children- or in front of them- we need to be sure that the words coming out will be helpful for building others up and that they may benefit those who listen. Speak the truth in love. Our words are so powerful. They can cut people down in an instant, destroy relationships, and break trust, and damage our Christian witness. But they can also encourage, build up, share the good news, and create new relationships. 

What areas of your life need to be renewed from the inside out?  Let's be honest in our speech and our actions. Don't stay angry. Be sure that nothing foul or dirty comes out of our mouths and that we don't participate in backbiting  or degrading talk, but use gentle words to help one another. Let's forgive one another. Remember,  in Christ's body we are all connected to one another.

My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭11-12‬ NLT)

As a parent I can totally connect with this verse. Since I have more experience and a different perspective on things I can guide my children away from situations that would harm them.
 
We were having a work day at our church last weekend and I went upstairs to find my 6 & 7 year old daughters walking out on the roof by themselves! Naturally, I was a bit concerned and told them they needed to come down right away. My youngest looked at me, and in all sincerity asked "What's so bad about playing on the roof, Mom?"  To you and me, that seems like a no brainer, but from her perspective I am just killing all the fun. Do you ever feel like God is always telling you no, or that the Bible is just a book of rules that take all the fun out of life?  Why did he have to make all those rules anyway?
Can I tell you that God's perspective is so much higher then ours. He wants only the best because He loves us so much. His way is ALWAYS the very best for us. You can always trust Him.

“God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. (‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22‬:‭31‬ NLT) (I would encourage you to read that whole chapter if you have a few moments.)
The entire chapter of Psalm 119 also tells us of the many benefits and rewards that come with following and loving the ways, commands, and laws of God. 
Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. (Psalm 119:35 NLT)
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:105 NLT)

They are there for our benefit- to give us the best possible chance at a rewarding life filled with joy. 

 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me [Jesus]. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. For My way is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:29-30 (MSG/NLT)

If someone had a map that could lead you safely through a minefield, you wouldn't attempt to make your own way. But in this life that is so fraught with pitfalls and dangers, we are bound and determined to do things our own way. God is holding out the map- the Bible is our guide. We just need to learn how to read it. His way is not a burden. He can see what is coming at the end of each path- the consequences of each choice and all the consequences after that. His ways do not always make sense, they are usually not the most not be popular, but it will always be the very best. Not just for right now, but for eternity. 

Join me on the discussion board.

We are a "doing" people. We want to move forward and up; improve our lifestyles, circumstances, and selves. There are untold numbers of "self- help" books, coaches, seminars, and workshops. Unfortunately very few- if any- of those have a grasp on what it takes to be satisfied. It's not a great mystery of the universe; we can actually know why were are here and exactly what our purpose is. We were created to be satisfied by only one thing, a personal relationship with God. Nothing else we can achieve or create will ever bring us even close.
"A relationship...a personal relationship.... with God? You can't be serious, how is that even be possible? Isn't God just an invisible entity floating around waiting to strike me down when I do something wrong?" That may be how you have thought of God in the past, but if this is new to you, I want you to try and see God from a new perspective. If having a relationship with God is not new to you, you can always grow and develop that relationship.  
God is actively seeking a relationship with you right now, and he is more concerned with your character then with what you are doing? He is more interested in your heart then what your home looks like or how many charities or church activities you participate in. 
He loves you more then you can imagine- flaws and all. Your purpose is to be constantly and continually walking and talking with the Lord.  I encourage you, if you are not already, to begin developing that relationship today. It may seem difficult at first, but most new relationships are a bit awkward. The best way to get to know God is to read the Bible and talk to him(that's all that prayer is). Let's take a look at the Bible too see what God's take is on this idea. 

Romans 8:35 (NLT) Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.


How was God's love revealed in Christ Jesus? 
John 3:16 For God SO LOVED the world that He gave is only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. 

2 Peter 1:3-4 (Message) Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. 5-9 So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.10-11 So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, his choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Nothing can separate us from God's love. There is nothing we can do that will make us unloveable to God.  Through Christ we have victory and we can have confidence in the knowledge that God loves us. Not only that, according to the verse in 2 Peter we have already been given everything we need to live a life pleasing God. A life that is active, growing, and richly rewarding. He has chosen and invited YOU! Does that mean it will always be easy? No, but the price for this richly rewarding life is simple. Get to know Jesus, personally and intimately. Everything else will naturally flow out of that relationship.  That is the best invitation you will ever receive! Better than any Groupon or BOGO, don't pass this one up! 

Leave me a note below or send me a message and let me know where you are in your relationship with God. Have you ever considered that God wanted to have a personal relationship with you? Have you ever thought that facing trouble meant that God doesn't love you?  I'd love to pray with you.