Being Different from the World

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15).

Walking in wisdom is an element of the worthy walk that Paul has been describing since the beginning of Ephesians 4. He says in verse 1, “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” and then proceeds to describe this worthy walk with the following characteristics: It’s a humble walk (4:1-3), a united walk (4:4-16), a unique walk (4:17-32), a loving walk (5:1-7), an illuminated walk (5:8-14), and a wise walk (5:15-17). The point that Paul is making in describing the various elements of the worthy walk is that Christians are different from the world. The world can’t be humble because everyone is fighting for his rights. The world can’t be united because it celebrates and exalts differences. The world can’t be unique because it’s trapped in its own self-destruction. The world can’t love because it doesn’t have the life of God—the source of real love. The world can’t know light because it lies in the system of darkness. And the world can’t be wise because the wisdom of God is hidden from the mind of man. As Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:7, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

Realize that being different from the world is an asset to your Christian witness, not a hindrance. When others see you obeying Scripture—when they see you walking in wisdom—they’ll notice you’re not like them. That difference can create opportunities to tell them about your Savior. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Keep walking in wisdom, and let others be attracted to the light of Christ!

Along with living different,, set apart while living within,, goes the following

We haven’t got it within our baser instincts to live godly lives, wise lives. This is why we must turn to the creator who is obliged to sanctify those whom he calls, those who fall face down before him confessing their inability to live godly lives, and asking for the Spirit to do the work that He is commisioned to do whole,we do the hard work of allowing Him to work on our wrong desires. If we try to turn from them ourselves, we are bound for failure. Our baser natures won’t let us succeed.

If we seek first the kingdom of God, and learn to truly fear him the way Christians ought to, then and only then will “all these things be added unto us” (ie, he Will give us the Will and strength to live godly lives, where the Holy Spirit is able to mold the willing into the image of Christ, and God’s will will,be done on earth as it is in heaven, through those that he quickens to do his will)

God is bound to fulfill the desires of those he created who gear him. These desires, the desires of those who fear him, are usually inline with his blessings, because the heart seeks and desires what God seeks-

“The eyes of all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them their meals”, but for his higher creations, mankind, he goes above and beyond and answers the desires of those that fear him, because their desires are in,in with his heart.

There are deeper needs in the hearts and souls of men than in the lower beasts; gears, sorrows, heartaches, disappointments, losses, and all manner of dark shadows in the lives of higher creation, yet God is able to fu.fill the desires of those that fear him and who soberly look to be are more like him through the workings and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We have to live in a fallen and rebellious world, but we can still be made, not by our power, but through the Holy Spirit, more like Christ if we decide we want to crawl,out of the dungeons of our own making,, that are crawling with spiders and creapy crawlies that haunt us, not help us, into the sunshine that is God’s presence. But it takes hard work- having the corners of our lives which are filled with ungodly desires swept clean is no pleasant thing. We want what we want, and we are loathe to give those wants up.

Which is why we must pray something like “Lord you know that I desire many wrong things, and you a.so know that I, in my current state of mind, will, ,ike a dummy, go down fighting trying to fiercely hold onto them despite knowing that they lead to no good thing, which is why I need for you to give me a desire in-line with your will. Forgive me for my rebellion, and for not fearing you as I ought and change my mind about the things I currently desire because I know that your Holy desires are far better than my Inferior desires, but my baser instincts are to hold fast to my inferior or desires which give only temporary and meaningless fulfillment.” IJna

(Much of the above was from Maclaren commentary)

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