Ephesians 4:22
“that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,”
The phrase “the lusts of deceit” is an interesting one. It’s packed full. Several things come to mind. I think of the power of temptation. Adam and Eve took the fruit and disobeyed God because they thought it was worth the consequences. They were told they would be “like God, knowing good from evil” Genesis 3:6. This was a partial truth. The knowledge that was gained was never meant for us. It along with our seperation from God has lead to depravity. There was deceit in lust.
I can think of sinful things that I have done and the anatomy is still the same. I did it because I wanted it regardless of the risk. The results were regretful. This doesn’t include only sinful things, but also many innocent pursuits. They also include the lusts of deceit. When we obtain it, there is a disappointment. We have a propensity to overinflate our expectations.
The “lusts of deceit” is like a giant bait and switch. Once we make the deal, the promised satisfaction isn’t there. The suprising part is that we fall for it our entire lives. There is maturity to some degree. We are no longer like a kid scrambling for pinata candy. But we still pursue things expecting grand results and end up disappointed.
Some of this naiveté drives our economy. Marketers advertise knowing how easily we are hooked. It’s not wrong to buy things or to have dreams. We need to know that the return will rarely match the expectation.
This is a problem in relationships and marriage. We think that being with someone will be all sunshine and light. We are blind to the friction and work that is necessary.
Many don’t come to Christ for this same reason. They feel they would have to lay aside all of the pleasing pursuits. There is some partial truth. Another part of today’s passage says to “lay aside the old self”. Jesus becomes our lord. We are to avoid unbiblical behavior. He will also work on our excesses. However, all of those things that we craved were hallow. What we usually don’t know when we come to Christ is that He gives us “fullness of joy”, Psalm 16:11. He is the creator and knows us. His presence is the biggest reason for the satisfaction. The limitation on our pursuits becomes a good thing.
Lord, thank You for your joy. Help us to be aware of the deceitfulness of lust. Help us to avoid poor choices that waste so much time, bring pain and often wreck relationships.
I can think of sinful things that I have done and the anatomy is still the same. I did it because I wanted it regardless of the risk. The results were regretful. This doesn’t include only sinful things, but also many innocent pursuits. They also include the lusts of deceit. When we obtain it, there is a disappointment. We have a propensity to overinflate our expectations.
The “lusts of deceit” is like a giant bait and switch. Once we make the deal, the promised satisfaction isn’t there. The suprising part is that we fall for it our entire lives. There is maturity to some degree. We are no longer like a kid scrambling for pinata candy. But we still pursue things expecting grand results and end up disappointed.
Some of this naiveté drives our economy. Marketers advertise knowing how easily we are hooked. It’s not wrong to buy things or to have dreams. We need to know that the return will rarely match the expectation.
This is a problem in relationships and marriage. We think that being with someone will be all sunshine and light. We are blind to the friction and work that is necessary.
Many don’t come to Christ for this same reason. They feel they would have to lay aside all of the pleasing pursuits. There is some partial truth. Another part of today’s passage says to “lay aside the old self”. Jesus becomes our lord. We are to avoid unbiblical behavior. He will also work on our excesses. However, all of those things that we craved were hallow. What we usually don’t know when we come to Christ is that He gives us “fullness of joy”, Psalm 16:11. He is the creator and knows us. His presence is the biggest reason for the satisfaction. The limitation on our pursuits becomes a good thing.
Lord, thank You for your joy. Help us to be aware of the deceitfulness of lust. Help us to avoid poor choices that waste so much time, bring pain and often wreck relationships.