Ephesians 4:22-32
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; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. 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.
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. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Devotion
In verses seventeen through twenty-one, Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus who they used to be before Christ. In verses twenty-two through thirty-two, Paul reminds the believers of who they are in Christ. He also gives some practical examples of what living this “new” life means in how we relate to one another as believers.
First, Paul tells us that we must “put off your old self” and “put on the new self.” Here, Paul is basically telling us that we must abandon our former way of living and embrace what it means to live according to the Spirit. If anyone is in Christ, “old things are passing away and all things are becoming new.” It is important to note that the transformation that Paul is talking about here cannot be accomplished by self-effort. As believers, we must not allow the old sinful nature to be in control. Instead, we need to surrender control to the Spirit and allow Him to shape us into the image of Christ.
In verses twenty-five through twenty-nine, Paul demonstrates what this “new” life looks like in the way that Christians are to communicate with one another. This whole concept of “speak the truth in love” is a new relational dynamic that some might find difficult at first. We basically learn our communication skills from our families of origin. Since these skills are learned, the good news is that we can learn a new way of communicating with others. If we are teachable, the Holy Spirit will guide us in this process. In our communication with others, we must train ourselves to put the best interest of the hearer first. We also must be honest. We must strive to communicate in such a way that the hearer still feels valued (loved) at the end of the conversation.
Paul closes out this section with one of my favorite verses, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Forgiveness is not an option for the believer. We have been forgiven for so much, and we are called to forgive others in the same way. As someone who has served in pastoral ministry for thirty years, I have often said, “Ephesians 4:32 is the most important verse in church-life today!” If we would commit to kindness, compassion, and forgiveness, there would be a lot less division in the body, and we would honor God by demonstrating His attributes with one another and to a lost world.
Questions to Ponder
Are you being transformed into a new creation because of Christ? How is this new creation different from the old self? What is your biggest struggle in rejecting your former way of life? Are you able to speak the truth in love? How are you at demonstrating kindness, compassion, and forgiveness?
Prayer Points
- Lean into our Loving Lord and tell Him once again how you love Him. No one can love Him the way you do as there’s only one of you. Tell Him again that you love Him because He first loved you. Let Him “woe” you with His affections and the reality that He has lavished His great love upon you.
- Respond to the Lord by the power of the Spirit within you and ask Him to enable you to be compassionate as He is compassionate upon you. Ask Him to grant you a deep hunger for Him and His Word.
- Ask our Forgiving Father to remind you of how you have been forgiven much and so you in return can forgive others. Ask the Holy Spirit for the enabling power for genuine/heart forgiveness to overflow.
Suggested Prayer
Lead me, Lord, into Your great heart of love. Cause me to be changed and transformed from the inside out, Abba, I ask. Set my heart to burn for You, to get away with You, and allow You to speak to me through Your Holy Word. I want to know You more, Lord. Cause me to know that You are the only One Who can fill this void in my heart. I give You free reign to every area of my heart and life. Come dwell at the center of my heart.
Remind me and Your church throughout the day today, Savior, to come to You, ask for help, walk in the footsteps of faith, listen and obey, go where You tell me to go, and speak to who You send me to talk to all in the power of the Spirit and compelled by the love of You, Jesus Christ. Let your love abound in and through me.
Make me and Your church at Oak Pointe a trophy of Your love. As we all get dressed today help us to remember to “put on” compassion, kindness, and gentleness. As we brush our teeth, I pray that You would remind us to speak words of truth in love. As we put on socks and shoes/boots, I ask that You remind us that our feet are fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. Lead each one of us into Your truth. Help us, Lord. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.