"Let no one be deceived"

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:6-10 ESV

Paul starts this passage off with “Let no one deceive you”. It’s obvious from this statement that there were some that had been deceived in Ephesus. He wants his readers to recognize empty words when they hear them. We too must not be deceived by empty words.

One of the tell tale signs of someone that uses empty words to deceive is that they tend to use many words. Usually when someone wants to explain away the truth of God’s word they make long and lofty arguments for what they are trying to get across. The use of many words is done to put up a smokescreen to keep the hearer from truly hearing the underlying message.

We that no longer walk in the darkness must seek to shed light on false teaching whenever we hear it. So we must know the word of God and what is good, right and true so we will know when someone is trying teach us something that is none of those.

photo  ©2004  Tony Hisgett, Flickr

We are children of light and have no place in darkness. So today, let’s examine all that we hear in the light of God’s Word to be pleasing in God’s sight.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman

"Renewal of your mind"

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV

The words that stand out to me in this verse are “renewal of your mind”. Renewal of our minds is what guides us in the right direction. In Christ our minds are renewed, they are brought back to the condition that the Lord has always wanted us to keep them in.

We as sinful people have allowed all sorts of filth and depravity to creep into our minds unnoticed. Just like a neighborhood can fall into disrepair and become a place where decent people no longer live, our minds have become a place where God no longer dwells.

photo  ©2007  Jaro Gielens, Flickr

Paul is calling believers to clean up their  neighborhood. He calls them to be transformed by the renewal of their minds. He is teaching the necessity of having a mind where God can and will live.

In order for our minds to be renewed we must be open to the Spirit's guidance in our lives. We must clean out all the filth and bring in Jesus teachings and our minds will become a place that we can feel good  again.

So today, let’s open our hearts and our minds to God’s word and renew our minds, let’s get involved in cerebral renewal and bring our minds back to the condition they were meant to be in.

© 2013 Leo J. Woodman