I long to make gaining Christ the first priority in my life. Not finding myself, or righteousness for myself, but precisely what Paul speaks of: 'To be found in Him, not with my own righteousness, which comes from the law, but with that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God through faith.' The Lord gives us everything in this world, including life itself; would it not be natural...
I long to make gaining Christ the first priority in my life. Not finding myself, or righteousness for myself, but precisely what Paul speaks of: 'To be found in Him, not with my own righteousness, which comes from the law, but with that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God through faith.' The Lord gives us everything in this world, including life itself; would it not be natural, in gratitude and praise to the Creator, to open ourselves to His presence? More than that—to seek Him and call upon Him continually, so that in the joy of being with Him we may 'know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and participation in His sufferings, becoming conformed to His death'? And Jesus, with the same love with which He speaks to the sinful woman (see Jn 8:11), will speak to us too, gradually revealing what we are able to take in.
And what is all this for? The joy of sensing God's presence that is available to us on earth conveys only a small part of what will be after the resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 2:9). If only because we will be able to stand beside Him and hold His hand…
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4:14 Fluctuating to and fro - From within, even when there is no wind. And carried about with every wind - From without; when we are assaulted by others, who are unstable as the wind. By the sleight of men - By their "cogging the dice;" so the original word implies.
4:15 Into him - Into his image and Spirit, and into a full union with him.
4:16 From whom the whole mystical body fitly joined together - All the parts being fitted for and adapted to each other, and most exactly harmonizing with the whole. And compacted - Knit and cemented together with the utmost firmness. Maketh increase by that which every joint supplieth - Or by the mutual help of every joint. According to the effectual working in the measure of every member - According as every member in its measure effectually works for the support and growth of the whole. A beautiful allusion to the human body, composed of different joints and members, knit together by various ligaments, and furnished with vessels of communication from the head to every part.
4:17 This therefore I say - He returns thither where he begun, Eph 4:1.And testify in the Lord - In the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus. In the vanity of their mind - Having lost the knowledge of the true God, Rom 1:21. This is the root of all evil walking.
4:18 Having their understanding darkened, through the ignorance that is in them - So that they are totally void of the light of God, neither have they any knowledge of his will.Being alienated from the life of God - Utter strangers to the divine, the spiritual life. Through the hardness of their hearts - Callous and senseless. And where there is no sense, there can be no life.
4:19 Who being past feeling - The original word is peculiarly significant. It properly means, past feeling pain. Pain urges the sick to seek a remedy, which, where there is no pain, is little thought of. Have given themselves up - Freely, of their own accord. Lasciviousness is but one branch of uncleanness, which implies impurity of every kind.