Ephesians 4:22-24
Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT)
You never know when the Holy Spirit is going to speak to you and lead you to share something new that you have learned with others. That opportunity came to me in a lecture during a Bible study class that I have attended for several years. This exact Ephesians scripture, that I had been assigned, was shared with our class. The presenter shared a chart that gave us comparisons of what might be some old self characteristics and how those could be changed to more Christ-like characteristics, changing our thoughts and attitudes through our faith in Christ.
| Put off – Old Self | Put on – New Self |
| Falsehood | Speaking truth |
| Sinning in anger | Self Control |
| Stealing | Useful work |
| Unwholesome talk | Encouraging Words |
| Harsh traits- Malice, Envy, Conceit | Kindness, Compassion, Forgiveness, Love |
This focused look helped me “see” how vitally important it is to rely on this gift of the Holy Spirit given to me through God’s love for me. God made this relationship possible through His perfect plan by sending His Son, Jesus, to earth to live, dwell, and teach God’s word among us and then providing the Holy Spirit after Christ’s sacrifice for us.
Questions for Reflection:
- How can I more fully let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes?
- How can I become more aware of the Spirit working in me?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to me. Help me to listen and learn from the Holy Spirit to guide me towards a life of love and unity in Christ. Amen
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