Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
These verses written to the Ephesians tell us so much on how to deal with each other, the Body of Christ. But especially when conflict and sin creeps up. And how to approach one another.
Many teachers, pastors these days have us believe that we should never address sin in our neighbor, never address conflict in the body of Christ. WRONG on so many levels. This passage even tells us how to deal with our anger toward each other. So to be angry, something must have happened to cause the anger. We ought to be a mirror to each other. We ought to not be offended so easily and build trust, in order to receive healing but speaking the truth or being spoken truth to, in Love.
There is so much false teaching out there in pulpit land, but not limited to that place. We often quote phrases as the truth of the Word and its nowhere to be found. What deception we place ourselves under by doing so, without checking the (facts) truth of the word.
It takes dedication, like in any activity important to us, to understand the Word of God. But we must not be discouraging to ourselves by thinking, we ought to be scholars. FAR from the truth right there. Reading a short passage IN CONTEXT daily will be sufficient to start with. The Holy Spirit has been left for us to be our teacher among other great personally trades, so that we CAN understand the Word of God. He gives us the power and wisdom to understand.
Learning on who God is in 3 persons; Learning about the Word of God shouldn't be looked at as chore, but rather finding out more about the Beloved. Falling in love with God and His Word to us, is the greatest ADVENTURE ever!
A teller working at the bank studies the real dollar to spot a fake one on sight. That is how it must be for us to spot false teaching.
My prayer today: Father help us to discipline (train) ourselves in reading of Your Word to us, daily. Holy Spirit, we are asking for Your power to understand and walk in the truth of the Word.
This is what was on my heart today and I bid you farewell until next time.
Please leave your prayer request in the comment section if you may.
