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Love For All – Week 41
Ephesians 4:25-32
“You can’t wear the same outfit every day!”
I remember this exasperating conversation with my toddler. I had patiently told him nearly ten times that he had to change his clothes, but he insisted he didn’t.
“Why can’t I wear the same clothes?”
I took a deep breath and got on his level, “Because your clothes are dirty. We need to put on our clean clothes. Otherwise, other people will smell your dirty clothes.”
It only took another five times to explain, but he eventually got it and changed his clothes.
As I reflected on this exchange, I wondered how often we, as Christians, act like tantrum-prone toddlers unwilling to change their clothes. Instead of an unwillingness to change our clothes, we often resist putting off our old sinful selves and nature.
In this section of Ephesians, Paul is writing to Christians, urging them to live in unity with one another and to put off their false selves. As redeemed Christians, they no longer had any business living in their old ways. Instead, we are called to live unified in one body with our fellow believers, and our lives proclaim the fruit of the spirit.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:25-32
Just like those early believers in Ephesus, we can also be spiritual toddlers, unwilling to shed our old selves and our old ways.
But Paul offers us help – he gives us suggestions for holiness. Take a look at this passage again. Paul dives deep with reflections on how to live a unified Christian life.
1. Speak the Truth in Love. As members of one body (the body of Christ), we are called to love one another and not deceive. We are called to speak truth in love to our neighbors.
2. Do not sin in your anger. The devil is always scouting for a foothold in our lives; do not let anger be one of them. Paul pulls from Psalm 4:4 to remind us that anger and sin are not synonymous, but be careful not to let bitterness lead to sinful actions that harm our neighbors.
3. Do not steal, but do honest work. Paul commands us to work with integrity and honesty. He echoes this sentiment in Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.”
4. Speak only what is useful and edifying, and let no foul language come from your mouth. Jesus tells us that what comes out of the mouth reflects what is in our heart (Matthew 15:18). Paul challenges us as believers to speak only what uplifts the body of Christ.
Live the New Life
It can be so easy to be stuck in our toddler spirit. The old clothes are comfortable, but just like stinky old clothes aren’t helping anyone, neither is it helpful for believers to be stuck living in our old ways. Let us cling to Christ and let him transform us each day.
As you consider this scripture and reflect this week, respond to the following questions:
1. How do you usually deal with anger?
2. Which of these four points (listed above) do you need to work on this week? Identify it and put a plan for change in action.