[Together as a She Reads Truth community, we are reading through Ephesians. Sign up for the reading plan here!]
Text: Ephesians 4:17-32
Futility is defined as having no useful result or purpose.
Paul says that we must no longer walk like those who don’t know God, in a futile way. This tells us two things – we DO have the ability to slip into those old patterns and we DO have the ability, in Jesus, to walk in a new way. Full of purpose. Full of fruit.
He urges us to put off our old selves and put on the new, to walk by the Spirit of our minds as we were “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (verse 24 ESV)
Today let’s just take some time to take stock of our hearts. When you read through the list of the characteristics of those old selves, are there any you see present in your life and heart today? Praise God that His Son Jesus died on the cross for those useless actions and ask Him by the power of the Holy Spirit within you to take them off.
Likewise, take a second to praise Him (rather than boast in ourselves) for the qualities of the new man you might find in your life right now. If we are in Christ, the old has gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17) and He is worthy of our praise for what He’s done in our hearts and lives.
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26 thoughts on "put off the old + put on the new"
My brain is in disarray trying to pin point something to elaborate on in this blog. God is good! He is such a provider. Not only does he provide us with more than enough to live, but he surpasses that amount so that we can have life more abundantly. He not only gave us life but gave us a way for us to live life eternally with him. He has given us talents and ways to present them for His glory. He has given us the tools and the manual. God is a great God! Thank you Lord for saving my soul #Amen
Going to try to keep verse 29 in mind more often :)
To fully bask in his wonderful grace at every moment of every day is my prayer. To really and truly let go of all the worries of this world, to be still, letting go of all the fleeting thoughts that distract me. My heart desires to draw closer to Him and live as a child of the light.
It seems to me that this passage reveals that the ""taking off" and the "putting on" are acts of the will made possible by the power of the Spirit. Somehow it is His job to make the "new clothes" look so good that we become willing, even anxious, to remove the old ones. We are always happier, in ourselves, to stay with the status quo. Lord, I pray that you would open my eyes to the beauty of the new clothes you have waiting for us. Don't let us settle for the rags we have gotten used to!
Great idea! Thanks!
Today is a great reminder to put off the old self and embrace the new self in Christ. It is amazing to see how different things are in my life. I know that I belong to Christ, and it is awesome to see how I have grown since then. Praise God for making us new in Jesus!!
These verses are just what I needed to read this morning. It is difficult to be kind and act loving towards someone who does not act loving towards you. It’s difficult not to get angry and hold on to it especially when you feel that someone has wronged you. But God has called us out of our dark places & into the light. He has called us to love and to be kind and to forgive. As such, he has already given us the tools that we need to so these things. He already knows that in the flesh we won’t be able to do them but in the Spirit all things are possible. Today’s verses challenge me to forgive the seemingly unforgivable & to love those who persecute me.
Through God and only God I have been freed from worry, bottled up anger and self pity!
Lord thank you for your word on today and forgive me for I have fallen short.
In this very short passage alone, I find 10 things we need to do daily to build ourselves in the Lord. Granted there are a ton more but these are an amazing reminder to the things that, with going unchecked, will lead us back to the path of sin in a hurry.
1) "Put off falsehood…"
2) "Speak truthfully to his neighbor…"
3) " 'In your anger do not sin.'… "
4) "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry…"
5) "Do not give the devil a foothold…"
6) "He must do work…that he may have something to share with those in need."
7) "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful…"
8) "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…"
9) "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."
10) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other…"
All found in vv. 25-32.
All the comments spoke to me today1 what an encouragement it is to me to knkow we can't put on the new selves by anything we can do. so no point in even trying. Ask god to do it and rely on Him. this is encouraging because then i don't have to feel I am the one falling short because I can't accomplish it.
Verse 29 speaks to me today, because I always need to make sure I am building others up with my words…instead of tearing them down. This is especially true for me when it comes to my kiddos. Instead of being critical of what they are doing wrong (like shoes untied, food on face, messy room), I need to give them loving instruction. I'm sure my husband would appreciate that from me, too. How often do we think about what another brother or sister in Christ needs to hear to build them up? And, this doesn't mean we should sugar-coat anything or tell them what they want to hear…But, what would really be helpful and encouraging for them?
Beth Moore did a simulcast on insecurity in connection with her book. She used this passage from Eph. 4:20 – 5:2 to make an acrostics about A Secure Woman who is:
Saved from herself.
Entitled to truth.
Clothed with intention.
Upended by grace.
Rebounded by love.
Exceptional by life.
Beth Moore had a simulcast on insecurity in connection with her book.
She uses this passage Ephesians 4:20-5:2 about a Secure Woman.
A secure woman is:
Saved from herself.
Entitled to truth.
Clothed with intention.
Upended by grace.
Rebounded by love.
Exceptional in life.
Grateful for all of your thoughts today, ladies.
This is a convicting passage, that's for sure :) Verses 17 – 19 are the ones that struck me most when I read today's reading. Sometimes it's easy for me to think that I'm 'better' than so and so because I don't do these things, or say these things, or think this way or that way…it's part of the ugliness of being human – thinking that I am somehow more deserving of grace or God's lavish love – how far from the truth.
When I read this description of the Gentiles in the first two verses of this passage, I gulped a bit. How often is my life the opposite of this? Do I choose each day, as Tonya said, to commit to better living and commit to not falling into this trap of ignorance? So easy to choose to be stagnant in my walk and not pursue who I was created to be. So thankful today, for Jesus and his gift of rescue from my struggles.
Thanks for your insight, all!
Two things I needed to be reminded of today –
1) putting on the new self is a daily choice! Not a one-time commitment to better living … am I choosing life every day?
2) God is grieved when I live in the past … today’s choices are not just about me. He sees everything!
What a convicting passage, I think verses 30-32 really speak to my heart, and make me stop and think about my life, and what I need to work on, what are somethings that I am doing that I might not even realize are breaking God's heart. For years I held onto bitterness and anger from someone who hurt me and about two weeks ago I realized how much my pride was allowing me to hold one…and I had a great lesson in letting go… sometimes we must put aside our pride and hurt and allow God to work in our lives!
As I overcome an eating disorder I am realizing that those behaviors are part of my old self. This passage was a hard one for me to get through because there is so much conviction in this little passage. I need to give grace freely – to myself and others – because God has given me grace. I think verses 31 and 32 speak to me strongly about how I should live my life engaging with others.
Thank you for being open about that… I, too, am struggling with an eating disorder…. I love the way His word fills us with hope…. Yes, we live in sin, but He always gives us an opportunity "out" or He gives us the ability to fight with the power of the Holy Spirit…. The same power that raised Christ … That power in us (sorry, can't remember the exact verse that states that)….. Keep fighting, sister…..
Emily and Elaine,
Keep on fighting using the Spirit's power! I am proof that it can be overcome! For me, it was also a situation where I had to take my eyes of myself and start focusing on others, and I started to see God teach and heal me as I was focusing on others. I was too focus inward on myself. This may not be your situation, just sharing that.
Elaine, the verse you were looking for is Eph 1:19-21
This is such beautiful truth and just what I needed to hear today. It’s a good reminder that each day we must choose to put on our new self…choose to walk in the spirit. Temptations are new every day…but so is God’s grace and power, and He is far more powerful than sin.
Yes, there are behaviors on this list that I have been involved in so verse 30 really lays my heart open and causes me to cry. "Don't grieve God. Don't break His heart. His Holy Spirit moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted."
Lord, help me today remember you are an intimate part of my life. The things I do can grieve you and that breaks my heart! Help me to remember to put these old ways behind and run toward You!
What translation do you have? I really like how verse 30 is translated here.
The Message–which I guess is considered a paraphrase and not a true translation but I love the way it puts the Bible into our everyday language.
Amen…well said
This passage speaks to so much that I used to skim through not knowing exactly how it might look in my life. Lately I've been learning that "to put off your old self" and "to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self" is a practical way to grow and live out my walk with the Lord. Considering sinful habits of my old self and trying to pray them away or just stop entirely doesn't address the heart issues that must be changed and transformed. My motivations and desires must be instead "renewed in the spirit of your minds" in the way I'm thinking and feeling. Without replacing the lies of my old man with the truth of Scripture, no fruit can be borne in a lasting way. Sin easily entangles us, but we are equipped having been given "all things thtat pertain to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1:3)