Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Ephesians 4:25-32


Peacemakers were made for times like these. Now is the time to put aside our differences and unite as one body in Christ. We are here to protect the weak and vulnerable. To make sure that the poor, the children and the elderly alike are given the care they need to weather this storm. No monetary gain is worth the life of an individual. We cannot make money our  idol.

United in the Body of Christ we stand…a house divided cannot.

Paul calls for believers to speak the truth to each other, because all believers are united in Christ. The Proverbs identify a lying tongue as one of the six things God abhors. Not all wrath is sinful. However, anger should not be allowed to fester or continue for long. Christians may respond in controlled anger to injustice and sin, but they should never be consumed by this anger. Instead they should seek opportunities to express Christ’s love to everyone. This is not merely a call to stop stealing or being greedy. Rather, this is a call to be generous, to have a true change of attitude. 

The Holy Spirit of God should never be pushed away, ignored, or rejected. If we would remember that the One who lives in us is God’s own Spirit, we would be much more selective about what we think, read, watch, say, and do. Note that Paul acknowledges that evil thoughts and actions are temptations even for those who are sealed by the Holy Spirit. NKJ Bible.

Paul seems to be indicating that poor treatment of others can constrain the work of the Spirit—essentially denying or resisting God’s indwelling presence. Faithlife Bible.

Ephesians 4:25–32
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Luke 3:11 | He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”

Romans 12:5 | so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Colossians 3:8 | But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Colossians 3:12 | Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;


Colossians 3:13 | bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

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