The Spirit Of The Age

You He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world. —Ephesians 2:1-2



Every age has its own thoughts, ideas, and values that influence the culture, the “spirit of the age.” It is the kind of growing consensus that morally lulls us to sleep, gradually easing out biblical principles and causing us to accept society’s latest values. The shifting of the Christmas season from one of celebrating and focusing on the birth of God's greatest gift to us, to a time of competition, commercialism and marketing is a prime example.

The apostle Paul called this corrupting atmosphere the “course of this world.” Describing the lives of the believers at Ephesus before they encountered Christ, he said that they were “dead in trespasses and sins” and “walked according to the course of this world” (Eph. 2:1-2). This is the world’s peer pressure—a satanically inspired system of values and ideas that cultivates a lifestyle that is independent of God.

Jesus intends for us to live in the world (John 17:15), so worldly influence is nearly impossible to escape. But He’s given us His Word to so permeate our thinking that we don’t have to become conformed to the world’s values (Rom. 12:1-2). Instead, God helps us walk in His light (Eph. 5:8), in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), in love (Eph. 5:2), in truth (3 John 4), and in Christ (Col. 2:6).

As we walk in God’s power and spend time in His Word, He gives us the strength to live according to kingdom values and not the spirit of the age.

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son.You have made

us alive in Christ and now we

have a new kind of thinking that differs from the world.

Teach us Your kingdom’s values that we might

learn to walk in love. In Jesus's name, Amen.

Although Christians live in this world, their allegiance is to Christ and His kingdom.   (Via Dennis Fisher)   Be Blessed!   Dawn