“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.”
(Ephesians 4:17 NIV)
* * Insist on/upon definition is - to say or show that one believes that something is necessary or very important.
[One of the things () God does /when he saves us] is to target the bad habits
in our lives. They’re not good for us, and some have profound
spiritual dimensions, so God wants to see them broken. Sometimes habits
are changed in an instant. There are other times, however, when God has
to change things /in our lives /in order for entrenched habits to be
overcome. He has to renew our minds, because we are used /to thinking a
certain way, and our thoughts may automatically go /down old tracks //that
are not healthy for us.
It isn’t enough to get rid of the old habits, however; we also have to
begin some new practices. In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle
Paul told them not only to put off their “old self, which is being
corrupted by its deceitful desires,” but also to “put on the new self”;
not only to “put off falsehood,” but to “speak truthfully to [their]
neighbor” instead; not to steal any longer, but rather to “work /so that
they may have something to share with those in need.”
It is said that
it takes about a month or so /to make or break a habit, so as we put
these good things into practice, we will gradually see good habits
forming – habits such as spending time with the Lord and reading his
Word every day. It goes without saying that we must use wisdom /in
staying away from former haunts and refraining /from watching or
listening to things //that could reignite old passions.
Finally, we know that we can make new resolutions /until we’re tired of
doing so, but nothing is going to change /unless Christ is living his
life through us; and, thankfully, that is what is promised to every
believer. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit for the strength /to break bad
habits and the grace to make new, godly habits //that will help us in our
walk with the Lord, to the glory of his name.
Read Ephesians 4:17—5:2.