Devotional Thoughts
Friday, March 26, 2004
Session 2: "Be Made New"
Ephesians 4:17-24
1. A Devastating Effect
> "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."
> Put Off...Put On
"You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off you old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
>It's interesting to note that the Bible doesn't assume we will have "friendships" with the opposite sex; atleast not in the same way that we do with those of the same sex.
>It also speaks more of "fellowship" and a relationship built around "agreeing on Jesus" than common interests/hobbies.
2. Self-Centered Relationships vs. Christ-Centered Relationships
(starting with identifying SCR)
a) Fear:
>For Women, fear is manifested in some of these ways:
-fear of abandonment,
-of being trampled on,
-misused,
-unchosen
-unwanted
-fear of not being like Eve, of not being noticed
>For Men, fear is manifested differently in relationships:
-fear of failure
to conquer
to succeed
-
From Fear to ---> Trust
through repentance
"The Gospel says that our worst fears about ourselves and others are true, but are contended with on the Cross of Christ!"
"The only place where you are free from the danger of love is hell itself." -- C.S. Lewis
people = risks
>Trust: "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement, because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:16-18
b) Guilt
Inappropriate Levels of:
-Physical Intimacy
-Emotional Intimacy
-Spiritual Intimacy
Sometimes women form strong emotional bonds with a man she likes because she can't get him romantically. So she pursues him, trying to make him need or depend on her for emotional strength.
You need to call this what it is: manipulation, and, obviously an inappropriate level of emotional intimacy.
