If you are reading with me through Ephesians this week, I wonder if you feel the same way I do... I could take just one verse from the chapter and focus on that single verse for the whole week! There is just so much to learn about Jesus as Paul writes this letter.
Can you first of all, imagine your church receiving a letter like this? The more I read scripture the more I try to picture it happening right at that moment. I wonder how we would react if we had a friend who was writing us from prison b/c of his love for Christ and persecution... I wonder if we would grab hold of the words he wrote about Christ, or if we would act like the Gentiles?! Interesting thought.
Anyway, there are so many actions to take away from chapter 4. So many do's and be's. It's really interesting to take them out and look at them all:
Be completely humble
Be completely gentle
Be patient, bearing with one another in love
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through peace
Do not live as the Gentiles do (in futility and ignorance)
Put off your old self
Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
Put off falsehood
Speak truthfully
In your anger, do not sin
Don't let sun go down on your anger
Do not give the devil a foothole
Steal no longer
Don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
Get rid of all bitterness
Get rid of all anger
Get rid of all brawling and slander
Get rid of every malice
Be kind
Be compassionate
Forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave you
That's a lot to comprehend. So what do you gather from it all? What is Paul trying to get at?
Your thoughts....
7 comments:
I love this chapter, Linnae. I stalled out at verses 1&2... and blogged about them today. Thanks for challenging us to read with you!
I didnt know you had a blog! Love it!
Linnae, I have far too many thoughts on this text to place here. I'm actually assisting in teaching this text in Sunday school, but I also use the principles in this text to help couples communicate, speaking the truth in love and expression of genuine anger, which is true intimacy. I think Paul is pointing to an experiential love of Christ, a secure place of emotional connection. If you ever want way more information on how this relates to emotional connection, I can fill your brain with all kinds of goodie power points and stuff. But I enjoy your blog. Keep up the challenging thoughts!
@ Tyler I'd love to hear more of your thoughts sometime. Thanks for chiming in!
That is a tall order. Having trouble with a lot of those today. This week, school, and lack of human communication is REALLY getting to me.
I meant human contact....wow! See!
@silverbelle... clearly it's been a long week ;)
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