Ephesians 4:17-32
I love it when the Bible really lays out specific details on how I should be living. Verse 22 tells us to put off the old self and to be "renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Then the passage goes on and gives us a bunch of examples of godly living, both positive and negative--things to do and things not to do.
How have your thoughts and attitudes been renewed or transformed as a result of accepting Christ as Savior? How do you see that being reflected in your daily life? How can we tackle those areas that still need some work? Tami W.
Ok, I give up. God wins. Every so often I think all is fine I' doing the right stuff and wham God drops reminder verses. Like this verse 26(T) Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and (U) give no opportunity to the devil. 28Let the thief no longer steal, but rather(V) let him labor,(W) doing honest work with his own hands, so(X) that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29(Y) 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 (Z) grace to those who hear.
And I realize that I’ve lost control of my mouth, and my thoughts. Thank you God for this check up from the neck-up.
Vs 32 says it all………………..
A check-up is a good thing to do. From time to time a doctor does a check-up on physical health. Why not do a check-up on spiritual health? I find it amazing how God opens my eyes and my heart. He actually shows me what I should be doing and gives me the power to choose right over wrong. God expects me to follow HIS way. In some areas my check-up showed major flaws, areas where I need to work harder in choosing God's way over my way. May my next spiritual check-up will have better results.
Scripture tells us in Jer 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" - we sure don't know our hearts, but He does! [better than we do, since He made us!] Thank the Lord, His Word IS a mirror.
He wants to transform each of us through His Word. Since becoming a Christian in '78-'79, my entire outlook on life and why I'm here changed and all started to "fit" together. God had a plan for the world, and He had a plan for my life, and He has a plan for each one of us! Keeping in His Word continually shows us those areas of our lives that we need work on.
I very practical example in my life. We have in leadership a very difficult person to work with. I won't go into details. God has very slowly changed my heart. Instead of calling him (in my own heart and mind)a silly name, I recently started by calling him by his title. This is a big change in me. I try to remember to pray for him, and I try to visualize him at Jesus feet.
After accepting Christ, my thoughts began to change as well as my actions as I grew. I can say that when I was a new Christian, it was hard for me to separate myself from the "old self", but as I studied more and grew in my understanding, faith and following of Jesus Christ, old things were farther from me and were easy to release.
In my daily life, I am challenged with situations that test my walk with Our Lord and Savior. I find myself leaving the conversation that turns to gossip. If my conversation can not build up, I can't be a part of it. I treat everyone the same. I do not pick sides or treat a certain person with love while disrespecting others. I am hoping, praying that my actions will make other seek His ways and remove their own ways. My silent testimony is backed up by my verbal testimony.
I struggle in standing up when one is wronged. Unfortunately, it is by individuals who are higher up. I pray for them daily, but it bothers me when they don't see their actions as error. There is so much favortism everywhere, my question is how do we stop it? I don't participate and find myself moving further and further from those who are unfair because of their personal feelings.
Things are different now that I have accepted Christ. Things don't affect me like they used to. I have more problems with Satan. He does anything and everything to try and get me away from Christ.
Tami & others: I really question my spiritual maturity when faced with the truth of the scriptures. In Phil 4: 11 Paul writes: "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (KJV). Nonetheless, I find myself murmuring rather than giving thanks. I sometimes comment to myself, "how spiritually immature" others are but in truth they only mirror my own maturity, or lack thereof. I struggle with hatred towards my superior,because of her behavior and those whom I feel are sycophants, with respect to her and other superiors. With little or no security around me, I find it difficult to rest securely in Him. I also can relate to Lisa A's comments. As for myself, I have the incessant battle between the old self (my street smarts) and the new man (wisdom of Christ). I find myself, at times, without hope, especially in the workplace and this volatile economy. "Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death...I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" I apologize for the rant
Most believers find it hard to lay aside the old self and put on the new self, that's because it is the work of the Spirit. Our part is to live in the reality of what God has done in us. Live in the new self and do not conform your mind to live in the old self; knowing this that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin(Rom 6:6). But by faith in the finished work of Christ, we are to live in the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
I think it is important to evaluate ourselves every so often because we continue to grow and therefore progress is needed because we are not perfect. Sometimes it helps to think before we speak. That is one of the things that I have learned. It makes a big difference and you offend less :)Being in constant prayer for God to mold our character and actions is the best way to go. Although we have the answer on how to improve our behavior and testimony is in the Word of God, it is a daily challenge.
Tami, you are right about time management I know my time could use some adjusting. When the day begins after my husband leaves for work that is my prayer time. On occasion before I realize what is happening I'm already involved with daily routines. Then I deal with guilt for not putting the Lord where he must be first, but when that happens I stop and have prayer time. I am thankful the Lord is full of GRACE!