December 15 2025

Monday December 15

“Therefore” Walk Differently

Ephesians 4:17-19

17 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.

Today we are moving into the final section of Ephesians chapter 4:17–32. In these verses, we learn that the Christian—the believer in Jesus Christ—is not only called to walk in unity within the body of Christ (vv. 1-16), but also to walk differently from the world around us, from those who are unsaved. Paul refers to these unbelievers as “the Gentiles”—those who do not know God, who do not follow Jesus Christ, and who have never been spiritually regenerated.

In the first part of this section, verses 17–19, which we will be looking at over the next few days, Paul gives a vivid description of how the Gentiles walk—how they live. And his message is clear: as followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be different. In verse 17, Paul exhorts believers not to walk as the Gentiles walk. He describes their lives as empty in their thinking, darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of ignorance and spiritual blindness. He goes on to describe a lifestyle marked by moral insensitivity, impurity, and greed. (Read the above verses again.)

My friend, that is a very apt description of much of America today. Many people have little understanding of spiritual truth—of the Bible, of God, or of living a life marked by respect and responsibility. Instead, they live selfishly, seeking only to please themselves, always wanting more—more possessions, more status, more of the newest and the best. That is exactly what Paul is describing. And he makes it clear that as believers, we should be different. Yes, we are to walk in unity as a body of believers, but we are not to walk as the Gentiles walk.

I believe the Bible is a book written to be obeyed, not merely studied or memorized. That is why we repeatedly encounter words like “therefore” and “wherefore.” In fact, between Ephesians 4:1 and Ephesians 5:24, those words appear at least eight times. Paul is essentially saying that because of what Christ has done for us—especially in the first three chapters and the first half of chapter 4—there is now a clear responsibility for how we are to live and walk for Jesus Christ.

The Apostle James reminds us of this truth in James 1:22-25, where he tells us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Otherwise, we are like someone who looks in a mirror, notices what needs to be fixed, and then walks away without doing anything about it. That is not how God intends us to live. Jesus Himself warned that hearing the Word without obeying it is like building a house on sand (Matthew 7:24-27). Our lives should be different.

The fact that we have been called in Christ (Ephesians 1:18) should motivate us to walk in unity (Ephesians 4:1–16). The fact that we have been raised from spiritual death (Ephesians 2:1–10) should motivate us to walk in purity (Ephesians 4:17–5:7). Paul also reminds us in Romans 6:4, that because we have been identified with Christ in His death, we are now called to walk in newness of life. It is a different life altogether.

We are alive in Christ. We are no longer dead in our sins. Therefore, we are to put off the old self and put on the new self (Ephesians 4:22-24). Just as Jesus command that Lazarus have his grave clothes removed (John 11:44), we too are to take off the old grave clothes of our former life and put on the grace clothes of our new life in Christ. We are to walk in God’s wonderful and marvelous grace.

As Paul begins this section of Scripture in verses 17–19, it comes as a strong warning—a negative admonition. We are no longer to walk as the Gentiles walk. We will be exploring this more in the coming days.

I trust that today you will determine with all your heart to be a follower of Jesus Christ who lives a different life.

God bless!