Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience."
Text: Ephesians 2:1-2
ON BEING FORTHRIGHT
Paul was most forthright in everything he did. It was always that way with him. Even before he came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, he found himself attacking that which he believed was wrong and heretical. Mercilessly, he assailed Christians with all the authority he could muster. He sent many to jail and some to their deaths.
When he was converted, this part of Paul never left him. He continued to be forthright. He poured himself completely into everything he did. Whether it was in the Missions field, or in his writings, Paul was true to himself and to his new-found faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
He could not be content with the superficial facts of the faith. He had to dig as deeply as he could. He had to discover all that Christianity offered and stood for. His being forthright stood him in good stead.
APPLYING THE WORD OF TRUTH FORTHRIGHTLY
There is no mistaking the forthright manner in which Paul applied the truth when he wrote to the Ephesians. Consider the manner in which he applied the following text.
“And you… who were dead in trespasses and sins…
In which you once walked according to the course
of this world…”
EPHESIANS 2:1,2
“AND YOU…”
1. A fact that cannot be denied
Paul did not write to accuse the Ephesians. Being forthright does not (should not) cause a person to become a fault-finder. Paul merely pointed out facts.
2. A fact that must be stated boldly
You would not find Paul mincing facts. He would always call a spade, a spade. His forthrightness compelled him to be what he was.
“YOU ONCE WALKED…”
1. An important observation
Paul did not fossilize the Ephesians in the context of their sinful past. Yes, there were many sins and they took their toll but that was not all. The apostle carefully noted that the Ephesian believers had forsaken their sinful behaviour of the past.
2. “You once walked”
The word “once” (“pote”) may also be translated “formerly”. There was a time in the past when the Ephesians walked according to the course of the world. But that could now be written off as a former experience. The fact was that they had ceased to walk according to the dictates or influence of the prince of the power of the air. Forthrightness must always be practised in the context of total truth.