Living Way Different

And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship - Acts 19:23-27

The WAY is what the Christian faith was called before people who professed Jesus as Messiah were called Christians in Antioch. Recall Jesus words.

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. - John 14:5-6

So what were the men upset about? They were going to lose money because people were no longer worshipping false gods and that was the source of their livelihood.

So what does it mean to live according to the Way? To follow Jesus. It is contrary to the consensus of the culture you live in.   There is so much that the world says is right that God says is wrong. 

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [what the world loves]. - Matthew 6:24

Don't believe the lie that you can do both. No - you must abandon one to embrace the other.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. -  Matthew 16:24

So what does it mean to deny yourself? That is to deny your old nature. Those things in your life that are contrary to the Word of God. Are there things in your life that you know are contrary to your new life in Christ that linger? Things that you are comfortable with? We are to take up our cross. So what is the Cross that we are to carry? Remember what Paul wrote in Romans 12?

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2

Paul wrote to the church in Galatia

For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:19-20

That is an intentional or deliberate act. It is something that you think through and then die to your old nature. It is not something that you can do on your own.  Only by the power of God in you. By faith and submission to the Spirit of God. You live in the Way by the spiritual power you received on the day you were born again. It is the only way you can do it. It is not a "one and done", but something that you do everyday - maybe every hour or minute or second. Be alert! Your old nature is waiting for the opportunity to rule - to reassert itself. 

As a Christian you are to live Way different.

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,  that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ [is] confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. - 1 Corinthians 1:4-8

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone