From Rivals to Relatives

Ephesians 4:17-24

"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, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."

Here at this table we put away rivalry and re-enter relationship. We surrender our hostility against God, our sins against Him. And we take up the cup of joy. We can’t hold on to our rivalry and rebellion and have fellowship with Jesus. Our hand has to hold this cup – the wine of relationship and communion. Or the cup we come with, of rivalry against God in our selfishness. Put away the sinful man Adam as you take on the new man Jesus. Peace with Jesus is not easy. Self-seeking rivalry keeps reasserting itself against Him in each of us. But it is worth pursuing, worth taking the trouble for, and that’s an understatement. Jesus Himself tells us, we will receive a hundredfold for all we have given up for Him in this life. This cup is a tiny token of that coming reward.

1/27/13