“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” (Ephesians 4:1, NLT)
When making a phone call the other day, the person on the other end of the line told me she knew I was on the line but couldn’t hear me. The audio would go in and out and finally went out right in the middle of my sentence. The woman spoke candidly, “There’s been some kind of disconnect. I can’t hear everything you are saying. Call me right back when you are able to get a clear signal.” This kind of disconnect is not uncommon with wireless signals, for it even happens with wireless headphones, earbuds, routers, receivers, televisions, and more. Anything that connects without wires can have a disconnect, where what is heard or seen doesn’t match the signal being sent.
Sadly, it is also not uncommon for there to be a “disconnect” in one’s spiritual or moral life. For example, a person can claim to be a Christian but act selfishly. A pastor may preach about tithing while at the same time knowing in his heart that he has not tithed in some time. A woman can smile as her friend speaks, while at the very same moment seethe with anger over what her friend said the day before. Spiritual “disconnects” occur when one’s words and actions/attitudes are not in sync. If your words say one thing, but your actions tell a different story, the disconnect can at times become glaring.... especially to God.
A few decades ago, a famous politician who professed to be a devout Christian got in a bit of hot water. Publicly, he delivered passionate speeches about morality and virtue. He was invited by pastors to speak to churches. He preached “family values”. He campaigned on a platform of “caring for people” and “doing the right thing”. Two years after he won his election, an undercover investigation found that while he advocated for veterans during his campaign, he voted to cut funding to Veteran assistance programs. He did this because his own political party was trying to pass funding on the defense budget. In essence, he appropriated more money to go toward military defense companies while dropping the support for needy military veterans and veteran hospitals. One month later, it was reported that he voted a series of laws that netted his own stock portfolio with a big boost in profits. When the news broke, he paid extra to a company to “fix” his public image. This dissonance not only impacted his constituents but also tarnished his reputation in the eyes of many. When his church friends saw this, they publicly and privately felt betrayed. Years later, the politician told his best friend that when he prayed, his failure to stand up for his beliefs during that time still bothered him deeply.
When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, he had time to reflect on his life choices. During his imprisonment, Paul even wrote a good number of things that ended up in our Bible. It is even believed that the whole of Romans was written by Paul when he was already under house arrest. In today’s scripture, Paul alludes to his imprisonments (Paul was arrested more than once for his faith!). In Ephesians 4:1, Paul wrote: “I, as a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to live a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God” (Ephesians 4:1). These words by Paul echo the common theme in the Bible that faithful words should be displayed by faithful attitudes and actions. To do otherwise would be a spiritual disconnect.
Over and over, Jesus saw people who talked religious or looked religious but were not faithful. On twelve occasions in the gospel of Matthew alone, hypocrites were roundly criticized for their sinful ways. Jesus pointed out that too many Pharisees were “blind guides” who looked religious but “neglected law, justice, mercy, or faith” (Matthew 23:23-24). Jesus had no sympathy for those who knew God intimately but whose actions betrayed a disconnect between their beliefs and attitudes/actions.
In a commentary on our scripture for today from Ephesians 4:1, Billy Graham had pointed words for the church. He wrote:
“Someone has wisely observed that the only Bible some people will ever read is the one they see demonstrated in the life of a Christian. In other words, the way we live often speaks far louder than our words.
People may tell us they don’t believe the Bible—but they can’t deny its power as they see it change our life, guide our decisions, and influence how we live. What do people see when they look at you? Do they see someone whose life reflects Christ? Do they see in you the Christlike traits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23)?
Ask God to rule in your heart, and remake you from within into the person He wants you to be. Then ask Him to help you be sensitive to those around you who may be successful on the outside, but inwardly are empty and confused, so that by your life and by your words they may discover the joy and peace that come from knowing Christ.” (p. 217, Wisdom for Each Day).
I couldn’t have said it any better myself!
Sadly, it is also not uncommon for there to be a “disconnect” in one’s spiritual or moral life. For example, a person can claim to be a Christian but act selfishly. A pastor may preach about tithing while at the same time knowing in his heart that he has not tithed in some time. A woman can smile as her friend speaks, while at the very same moment seethe with anger over what her friend said the day before. Spiritual “disconnects” occur when one’s words and actions/attitudes are not in sync. If your words say one thing, but your actions tell a different story, the disconnect can at times become glaring.... especially to God.
A few decades ago, a famous politician who professed to be a devout Christian got in a bit of hot water. Publicly, he delivered passionate speeches about morality and virtue. He was invited by pastors to speak to churches. He preached “family values”. He campaigned on a platform of “caring for people” and “doing the right thing”. Two years after he won his election, an undercover investigation found that while he advocated for veterans during his campaign, he voted to cut funding to Veteran assistance programs. He did this because his own political party was trying to pass funding on the defense budget. In essence, he appropriated more money to go toward military defense companies while dropping the support for needy military veterans and veteran hospitals. One month later, it was reported that he voted a series of laws that netted his own stock portfolio with a big boost in profits. When the news broke, he paid extra to a company to “fix” his public image. This dissonance not only impacted his constituents but also tarnished his reputation in the eyes of many. When his church friends saw this, they publicly and privately felt betrayed. Years later, the politician told his best friend that when he prayed, his failure to stand up for his beliefs during that time still bothered him deeply.
When the Apostle Paul was imprisoned for being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, he had time to reflect on his life choices. During his imprisonment, Paul even wrote a good number of things that ended up in our Bible. It is even believed that the whole of Romans was written by Paul when he was already under house arrest. In today’s scripture, Paul alludes to his imprisonments (Paul was arrested more than once for his faith!). In Ephesians 4:1, Paul wrote: “I, as a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to live a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God” (Ephesians 4:1). These words by Paul echo the common theme in the Bible that faithful words should be displayed by faithful attitudes and actions. To do otherwise would be a spiritual disconnect.
Over and over, Jesus saw people who talked religious or looked religious but were not faithful. On twelve occasions in the gospel of Matthew alone, hypocrites were roundly criticized for their sinful ways. Jesus pointed out that too many Pharisees were “blind guides” who looked religious but “neglected law, justice, mercy, or faith” (Matthew 23:23-24). Jesus had no sympathy for those who knew God intimately but whose actions betrayed a disconnect between their beliefs and attitudes/actions.
In a commentary on our scripture for today from Ephesians 4:1, Billy Graham had pointed words for the church. He wrote:
“Someone has wisely observed that the only Bible some people will ever read is the one they see demonstrated in the life of a Christian. In other words, the way we live often speaks far louder than our words.
People may tell us they don’t believe the Bible—but they can’t deny its power as they see it change our life, guide our decisions, and influence how we live. What do people see when they look at you? Do they see someone whose life reflects Christ? Do they see in you the Christlike traits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23)?
Ask God to rule in your heart, and remake you from within into the person He wants you to be. Then ask Him to help you be sensitive to those around you who may be successful on the outside, but inwardly are empty and confused, so that by your life and by your words they may discover the joy and peace that come from knowing Christ.” (p. 217, Wisdom for Each Day).
I couldn’t have said it any better myself!