Change Me
Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 7:35PMEphesians 4:25–5:2 (NRSV) So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not make room for the devil. 28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
I've been spending some time in the book of Ephesians over the last week. I've been reading it through repeatedly to try and let the content of Paul's writing to the church at Ephesus settle down inside of me. Everytime I come to this passage, I think the same thing. If we were to take those words to heart, it would radically deepen and strengthen our relationships. Read those verses slowly (and even outloud). Now, stop and listen for the Spirit's voice. What might he be saying to you?
If only I would take and live out one of these commands like "Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is useful for building up..." or "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another..." what a better person I would become. Yet, I'm not helpless in this process. I can choose to do some things (i.e. spiritual disciplines) to help me take to heart these commands. For example, instead of talking evil of someone, I can instead choose to pray for them. Take something that's bad and instead, turn it on its head and do something good. Before you know it, with the help of the Spirit, you'll (I'll) be changed.
My New Year's goal? To be changed . . . for the better. More of Him, less of me.
Reader Comments (2)
Great post. May we all strive to be changed.
Thanks Jason for commenting. And yes, may we all be transformed.