Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry …
Summary: The danger of getting caught in sin because of anger is very real. Paul gives us a practical time limit to deal with our anger.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:26b – Deadline”Ephesians 4:26a – Anger Checked
“In your anger do not sin”
Summary: There is a right way to be angry and a wrong way. Most of the time, we humans end up doing it the wrong way.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:26a – Anger Checked”Ephesians 4:25b – Truth Teller
… and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Summary: Speaking truth in love is not as easy as it sounds. Before we can speak truth, we have to know what truth is.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:25b – Truth Teller”Ephesians 4:25a – Snakes and Doves
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood …
Summary: The devil is the master of lies. You might say he is the father of falsehood. Paul is guiding us away from Satan’s influence.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:25a – Snakes and Doves”Ephesians 4:24 – Intro to Part II: All the Work
… put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Summary: Why does it feel like “putting on” this “new self” is a lot of work? The answer, like so many things in life, depends on how you look at it. Looked at correctly, we are not doing any work at all. Instead we are honoring our King, Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24 – Intro to Part II: All the Work”Ephesians 4:24c – The Seven Step Plan
… in true righteousness and holiness.
Summary: Today’s passage marks the end of the beginning. In the beginning of Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul lays out a seven point plan culminating in living a life that is “true righteousness and holiness.”
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24c – The Seven Step Plan”Ephesians 4:24b – Following Jesus
… created to be like God …
Summary: The idea of being like God can feel a little intoxicating … to the old self. To the new self, being like God is to be like Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24b – Following Jesus”Ephesians 4:24a – Programmed for Life
… and to put on the new self,
Summary: Using a computer for a modern metaphor for a spiritual concept is helpful. We operate in a similar way. The one major difference is that unlike the computer, we get to choose our “programming.”
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24a – Programmed for Life”Ephesians 4:23a – Attitude
… to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
Summary: The secular version of having a “positive attitude” is usually motivated by secular benefits. It is a way of controlling what happens in the world around us. Christianity uses a similar technique for very different reasons and with different results.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:23a – Attitude”Ephesians 4:22b – Weed Killer for the Soul
… which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
Summary: The “old self” is tricky. It wants to be liked so it plays tricks on us to make us think it is doing good.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:22b – Weed Killer for the Soul”