I’ve been thinking a lot about the sermon on Ephesians 4:17-32. There were so many verses to cover and I only spent a few minutes on each of the five changes of behavior in verses 25 to 32. There are some very significant things addressed there that need to change in us. I would hate for us to skip the opportunity of significant reflection. So, I’m writing this to encourage some more reflection, even in myself, prayer, and hopefully continued awareness and work with the Holy Spirit on change.
25 Therefore, taking off falsehood, each one of you must speak truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another.
Are you consistently a truth speaker?
Falsehood is not just bold-face lying, it’s the things we might consider little white lies. It’s little deceptions. I said in my sermon that if we are going to develop trust in relationships, it requires speaking truth. That doesn’t necessarily always mean telling everyone every piece of information. But, maybe as a means of helping assess ourselves, we should ask, “If this person knew what is entirely behind what I’m saying or not saying, would it cause them to distrust me?” For example, there are things I don’t tell my wife about things that go on with people at church. But me not sharing that stuff with her doesn’t foster distrust; quite the contrary, it actually causes her to trust me more because she knows that I know what things to keep to myself. But on the other hand, for example, if I tell someone something about myself or one of my kids, to make myself look better, and what I said isn’t really accurate, or I tell an embellished story, if that person knew it, they probably wouldn’t trust me as much.
26 You must be angered, but you must not sin; the sun must not set on your angry mood, 27 and you must not give the devil an opportunity.
When someone sins, generally or against you, do you go to them and address it (Matthew 18:15*)?
Do you deal with your attitude toward them, with God, by praying?
This is no small issue. The devil is apparently looking for an opportunity, probably to do things like cause division, spite, hatred, etc., if we don’t deal with these things properly.
* Matthew 18:15, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
28 One who is stealing must no longer steal; but rather, must work hard, working at what is good, with his/her own hands, so that he/she may have something to share with the one who does lack what is needed.
If you are working hard, after your basic needs** have been met, do you give something or save something to give later to others who don’t have their basic needs met?
**Basic needs are sustenance, covering, shelter, supporting the church (yes, us giving to the church, in large part is meeting our needs - of spiritual food, shelter, and covering)(and it would probably go first on God’s list of what to do with income, showing trust in Him for provision, and thanks to Him for providing),
1 Timothy 6:8, “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be satisfied.”
1 Corinthians 16:1-2
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.”
Deuteronomy 8:17-18, “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
29 Any and every word that is rotten must not come out of your mouth; but rather, only what (word) is good for building up, for the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And you must not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Are the words you speak to others like good gifts (grace), or is it like giving them a piece of rotten fruit as a gift?
Do the words you speak to others build them up, or tear them down?
This is very serious, especially how we speak to our brothers and sisters in Christ, because God himself, in the person of the Holy Spirit lives inside that person. It makes God sad when we speak to one another in rotten or mean ways. But even just the useless things that we often say, should be held back. Our words are very powerful (seemingly patterned after the power of God’s words, being that we are made in His image); they can either be powerful for building up, or powerful for tearing down.
31 All bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and shouting, and slander, must be taken away from you, along with all hateful feelings. 32 But instead you must become kind to one another, good hearted, giving grace one to another, just as God in Christ has given grace to you.
Do you see any of these things in verse 31 in you on a regular basis?
I say regular basis, but the apostle Paul’s emphatic “any” sound like we should be working toward these things never happening. So, I know I have work to do. I get angry when my feelings are hurt or I feel disrespected (even though that person may be wrong, it doesn’t justify my wrong reaction). I still shout periodically; I might say, “It’s not that often,” but that’s more than the desired never. These things can stop, by the power of the Holy Spirit. And the new can start by His power – kind, good hearted, giving grace.
What amazing family lives we would have, with our spouses and kids, as well as our church family, and what an amazing witness for Christ we would be to outsiders if these things began to and continued to change in us. I’m praying for it in me, and among us.
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