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Eph 4:25-5:2 (ESV)
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Walk in Love
5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
This passage is part of a much larger section that covers 4.17-5.21, so try to keep that in mind as we consider what we find in these verses.
Even in these verses, there is so much for us to absorb, and candidly, it’s just too much to cover in a devotional such as this. As I read these verses I encourage you to take the time to stop and rest on the parts that strike you and just take some time to think about what you’re reading and how you are challenged by what you find here. I think if we’re being open with ourselves, we would have to admit that there are parts of this passage that we really need to hear and let sink into our hearts and minds.
Remember, just before this passage, the call is to move away from or “take off” the old stuff in our lives that isn’t consistent with our new life in Christ, and to move toward or “put on” Christ.
Here, Paul continues his theme of “putting off” and “putting on” with some very practical steps for followers of Jesus to take. He mentions anger, stealing, and a whole host of other things that are obviously out of tune with our faith in Christ. The idea is to just throw them into the trash because they certainly don’t reflect the lordship of Jesus over our lives.
Instead, Paul says that we are to be kind to one another (4:32). Kindness for Paul isn’t sappy emotional sentimentalism. Kindness is a character trait, a fruit of the Spirit that grows and matures in us as we grow in our relationship with Jesus and one that separates and identifies us as belonging to Jesus. It’s a hallmark that indicates our identity in Christ, and a quality that Paul, at the end of our passage, encourages us to imitate in our relationships with each other.
The bottom line is that Paul understands that being in Christ transforms us. The old stuff from our old dead lives must go, and in its place, we’re to put on the new, to put on Christ, and reflect the love, forgiveness, and grace of the Lord in all our relationships. If we truly claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior and pursue a relationship with Him, then our lives will change because the Lord is active and working within us all the time.
The transforming work of the Spirit is not always easy or comfortable. Growth and transformation may require some challenging adjustments at times and for us to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with others. But…, can you imagine the kind of impact your transformed life has as you reflect the Lord’s kindness to others?
Where are you challenged in this passage and what do you think the Lord is asking you to do?
God bless you and know that you are prayed for constantly.
Scott
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