Today's Passage - Ephesians 4:17-19

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Ephesians 4:17-19   "So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more."   Christians should live the life of a new creation, which is a life that is set apart from the world.  In verse 17, Paul said that we "must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking."  "Futility of their thinking" means that we might think that God cannot see what we're doing.  Many people follow their own evil desires and do all kinds of filthy things because they think God cannot see or hear, so they do whatever they want.  Some people like to put dark films on windows so that that they can see outside but people from outside cannot see them.  We feel that is it's safe to hide inside our own little space and we can do whatever we want.  The fact is that our God is all-powerful and all-knowing.  May God give us a heart that fears Him as we live each day of our life on earth.   One time when I was transferring in Seoul, Korea, I was all alone in a place far-off to me.  Suddenly I heard God's voice saying, "when you are alone, can you still obey faithfully?"  At the time I clearly knew that the Lord was right beside me, and I understood the challenges before me from the Lord.  Therefore, even though I was alone in a far-off place, I was able to faithfully live of the Lord; not for anyone, but simply for the Lord.  Brothers and sisters, can you faithfully obey the Lord when you are alone?  We like to talk about God's presence because it's comforting to know that Lord will never forsake us; on the other hand, it keeps us on our toes because we are always living before Him, twenty-four hours a day without a break.  If you understand this truth, you won't be living with futility of thinking like the non-believers, thinking that God will never know.  On the contrary, you will faithfully and obediently serve Him in everything that you do.  Are you willing to do that?                                                                                   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I give all the brothers and sisters onto your hands and ask that your precious blood will cover us.  In the victorious name of the Lord, I rebuke all the futility of thinking inside us.  Please forgive us if we thought you can't see and can't hear us.  Please enlighten us to see that you are the God who's always with us.  Examine everything that we do and give us a heart that fears you.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!