Ephesians 4:17-32
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
We have to stop living as we did in the past. When you indulge in sin, you lose sensitivity towards sin. You harden your heart. That is why as we grow in Christ the things we had no issue with last year, bother our conscience today because the Word of God and the Holy Spirit are softening our hearts.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
I envision a person removing an old coat on putting on a new.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Don't lie.
26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Notice it does not say, do not get angry. It says do no sin when angry. However so often our anger is the result of pride or self defense. A little trick I was taught when asking the question, "Do I have the right to get angry?" is to change one word. "Do I have the DUTY to get angry?" In other words is my anger aimed at sin? Is my anger a righteous anger?
Don't go to bed mad. You won't sleep well and when you wake you will that much more convinced that you are right and less likely to see the other persons point of view.
28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Don't steal. Work.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
This is not just swearing. Those off color jokes and gossip falls under this command too.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Remember that the Holy Spirit lives inside you. Everything you do he is right there watching you participate. Do no grieve him with doing evil.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Are you holding a grudge? The the mere mention of a name set you off? Do you wish some one dead? Do want to fight someone? Are you always ready to tear someone down?
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
This was a memory verse I learned back in my 2nd grade Sunday School class. Time to move it from head knowledge to heart knowledge.
God Bless.
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