Once one decides to take a faith journey the walk is one that has certain expectations. A person can claim that they are “in the way” which is the earliest title given to those who follow Christ, and the apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church of Ephesus to encourage them to know the Way and test to see whether or not they were living up to the calling in which they had been called.
The society of that time was steeped in erroneous beliefs, traditions, fornication, greed, and covetousness; which is having a strong desire or lust for what others have. Turn on most things you can watch or music you can listen to and these beliefs and behaviors are being promoted and glorified to the youngest to the eldest person. Often not realizing that what you fill yourself up with is what you will diffuse out to those you are around.
Ephesians 5:2 states, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 compliments the previous verse in that it reads, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
If anyone has or has ever seen a diffuser at work it is filled with water and just a few drops of an essential oil. Then as long as it is plugged into the power source and turned on it will begin erupting with the fragrance to fill the air. Likewise, if we are filled with the Spirit of God and continue to be “plugged into” the source we will radiate the Light which grows within us.
We are either growing in our faith and knowledge of God or growing in corruption, or the ways of the world, (ie) the views of society and deception. Paul encourages that we should no longer be “children” which means to “grow up” and “find out” (learn and discover) what is acceptable to the Lord and continue to walk worthy of the calling with which we have been called. He lists several different behaviors and attitudes that are evidence of “walking the walk,” such as being humble, kind, patient, and understanding.
We are to put off the “old ways” (anything that does not align with the Bible) and to put on the new ways. This process is done through the act of repentance and then from that decision on we have to continually choose to “put away” the beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that lead away from God and not to Him. Those issues should never be given a place in our lives and be done with malice; which is continuing to do with the intent on continuing to do. Simply put, not changing. When we learn to walk worthy there will be a true change of the person we used to be. We will not be perfect, but this walk will equip us to be a light and emit the fragrance of God to offer rays of hope to those who have not yet started the walk.
~TRS 6/9/24
Rays of Hope 