Verse of the Day 12/16
Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. New Living Translation (NLT)
For today's verses we go to another one of Paul's letters in which he talks about putting of the old and putting on the new. The heading for the passage is in the ESV is "The New Life". Paul's messages varied from church to church depending on the circumstances, but what we find in theses passages in Colossians and Ephesians can be applied to all Christians.
For today, I'd like to focus on the principle of forgiveness; not just being able to forgive but to make it a priority. When you look at the things "to get rid of" above including rage, anger, harsh words and slander; think about what these things are often rooted in. Someone feels that they have been wronged, mistreated or just ignored and the reaction, rather than to forgive is to get back at the "offender"; seek retribution or take vengeance upon that person in the form of the things just mentioned – anger, rage, slander, and other harsh reactions. If we are to put off the old it will often begin with being willing to forgive and yes, forget.
Pastor Greg Laurie writes, "It isn't about whether they deserve forgiveness. Forgiving someone isn't letting them off the hook. Forgiving someone is a way for you to be free from a life of bitterness. Otherwise, you can be living in a prison of anger and even despair…..Really, forgiveness is more for you than it is for the one who wronged you. As I've said many times, when you forgive someone, you set a prisoner free: yourself."
If you've been set free by being willing to forgive, you'll be better able to experience the "new life in Christ".
New life in Christ
Abundant and free
What glories shine
What joys are mine
What wondrous blessings I see
My past with its sin
The searching and strife forever gone
There's a bright new dawn
For in Christ I have found new life
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Ephesians 4:17-32 English Standard Version (ESV)
The New Life
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self,[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
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.
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