Ephesians 4:25-28
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
Observations:
Therefore: what is it there for? Because we need to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and put on a new self in the likeness of God there are some things we should/should not do.
Among them:
-put away lying, and speak only the truth
-when you are angry, do not let it cause you to sin
-do not steal, but labor for what you have, do your own work so that you will have something to share
Application:
The new self deals with people differently. The new self seeks the good of others and does not live for itself. Evidence of this new life is seen in that we speak the truth. I recently listened to a fellow speak about committing to not tell a lie of any kind for one whole year and he has written a book about it. At first I thought, "So what's the big deal, that is not so hard." But as I listened I became so convicted. Have you ever told someone, "No, I never got your message?" "I'll call you." Or how about, "I will pray for you." What about in worship? Do you really mean the words you are singing? "All to Jesus I surrender?"
Anger is something that is going to happen, but what I choose to do with it is entirely up to me.
I find it interesting what Paul says is the purpose of our labor. It seems obvious that we should not steal. It seems obvious that we should labor with our own hands for what we have, and that the work we do should be good. But the reason we are to labor like this? So that we will have something to share with the one who has need. When I think about my own labor, which at this time in my life involves writing and preparing this Bible study, I see it fitting very well. What about that labor that puts food on my table, a roof over my head, provides clothes and trips and whatever else we can imagine? How am I doing at sharing the fruits of that labor with the person in need? I am immediately convicted by the way the size of our closets have grown over the years. What once fit neatly in a little dresser and on a few hangars now requires its own room in our homes. Perhaps a part of what this idea is calling me to is a simplifying of my life. How much stuff do I really need to have? Oh, I am good about rationalizing it all, but in our time, is this one of the ways that we have allowed ourselves to live like the Gentiles in the futility of their minds?
Blessings,
Deb
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
Observations:
Therefore: what is it there for? Because we need to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and put on a new self in the likeness of God there are some things we should/should not do.
Among them:
-put away lying, and speak only the truth
-when you are angry, do not let it cause you to sin
-do not steal, but labor for what you have, do your own work so that you will have something to share
Application:
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| Now on my wish list to read. |
Anger is something that is going to happen, but what I choose to do with it is entirely up to me.
I find it interesting what Paul says is the purpose of our labor. It seems obvious that we should not steal. It seems obvious that we should labor with our own hands for what we have, and that the work we do should be good. But the reason we are to labor like this? So that we will have something to share with the one who has need. When I think about my own labor, which at this time in my life involves writing and preparing this Bible study, I see it fitting very well. What about that labor that puts food on my table, a roof over my head, provides clothes and trips and whatever else we can imagine? How am I doing at sharing the fruits of that labor with the person in need? I am immediately convicted by the way the size of our closets have grown over the years. What once fit neatly in a little dresser and on a few hangars now requires its own room in our homes. Perhaps a part of what this idea is calling me to is a simplifying of my life. How much stuff do I really need to have? Oh, I am good about rationalizing it all, but in our time, is this one of the ways that we have allowed ourselves to live like the Gentiles in the futility of their minds?
 |
| This is an image I found titled "Small Closet Solutions." hmmmmmmm. |
Blessings,
Deb
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