Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind."
Text: Ephesians 4:17
A SOLEMN WORD
Paul’s tone changed dramatically as he wrote this word. There was great solemnity in his tone. The gravity of his words were marked by the way he addressed his readers.
1. “This I say, therefore”
Paul does not normally preface his thoughts with a phrase like this, unless he was addressing something of a grave nature.
a) Added emphasis
The function of this phrase was for the purpose of adding emphasis. Paul was making a very strong appeal to his readers to give extra attention to what he was going to say.
b) A reasoned approach
This appeal was not based on emotions. The inferential particle “therefore” suggests that Paul had carefully reasoned his way up to this point. On the basis of all that he had reasoned out, he could then add this particle, “therefore”.
2. “And testify in the Lord”
The gravity of this statement is made even more obvious when Paul invoked the name of the Lord Himself. No Jew would ever invoke God’s name without good reason. No apostle would call upon God to bear witness unless the matter was of great importance.
The combined impact was stunning! The careful reader would sit up and ask what Paul was going to say next! The apostle has the full attention of the alert reader now.
A CLEAN BREAK
Paul emphasized that all believers must be careful to maintain their Christian walk, if they truly knew and loved the Lord.
1. “No longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk”
There must be a clean break from the old way of life. The word “Gentile” is not used in a racial sense. It is used to describe the lifestyle of those who do not know the Lord at all (the pre-conversion state… Cf. Ephesians 2:1-3).
2. “In the futility of their mind”
The idea of futility (“mataioteti”) underscores why Paul insisted that believers should not walk as unbelieving Gentiles walk. What a terrible shame it would be to conclude one’s life on earth in “futility”. We would have nothing to show before the Lord when we meet Him at the end of life’s day!