December 16 2025

Tuesday December 16

Therefore, We Think 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 looking at Ephesians 4:17–19. Here, the Apostle Paul explains that because we have now trusted Christ—because He has saved us, changed us, transformed us, and seated us in the heavenly places, and because we have received the Holy Spirit—we are called to live differently. We are called to walk in unity and to work together so the body of Christ may be built up and become a witness to the world around us. We now have purpose in life, and Paul makes it clear that we are not to walk as the Gentiles walk.

He begins explaining this in verse 17, where he gives a strong warning. He tells believers not to live the way the lost world lives—the unconverted, those who have never been regenerated. Their lives are described as empty in their thinking, darkened in understanding, separated from the life of God, and driven by ignorance and spiritual blindness. This way of life ultimately leads to moral insensitivity, impurity, and greed.

Paul begins with a negative instruction: do not walk in that direction. Do not follow the pattern of the lost world. He speaks with authority, testifying in the Lord, reminding us that Jesus Himself has taught us how to walk in righteousness—pursuing what is good, holy, just, and pure. This is the kind of life Jesus described in Matthew chapter 5 through the Beatitudes, which reveal the attitudes that should mark a believer’s life.

One of the first things we notice in this passage is that Christians are different. How are we different? We no longer think the way unsaved people think. There is a strong emphasis on the mind in verses 17 and 18—the futility of the mind, darkened understanding, and spiritual ignorance. But as believers, “we have learned Christ” (v. 20). Remember Jesus invited us to “come and learn of me” in Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”  Learning Christ means walking with Him—following His Word, embracing His truth, and moving in the same direction He walked. And that direction is one of continual obedience to the will of God and sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:5-8, that we are to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. What kind of mind was that? A mind of obedience, sacrifice, humility, and devotion to the Father’s will. Jesus lived for the glory and pleasure of the Father. He said that He must be about His Father’s business. This kind of mindset changes everything. As a result, we no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds. That word futility speaks of emptiness—a life without purpose. When Christ comes into our lives, we live a life of repentance, which means a changed mind. We change our mind about God. We change our mind about sin. We no longer seek the pleasure of sin; instead, we desire the pleasure of God.

Our values change. Our goals change. Our entire view of life changes. When Christ comes in, everything becomes new, just as Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 5:17. “Old things pass away, and new life begins”.

Paul describes the mindset of the unconverted person in Romans 1:21-23: “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things”. This is a life marked by empty thinking, darkened hearts, and self-deception. This is the futility of the mind. It is a life without true purpose, without eternal focus. That is why we see so much violence, despair, and hopelessness in the world today. People fail to respect life because they do not recognize God as the Creator and Giver of life.

But as believers, we are different. Our focus is no longer on temporary things or personal feelings alone, but on eternal realities and the life that only God can give through Jesus Christ. We think differently because; “… we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Thank God for that difference. May the Lord bless you today as you think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

God bless!