In light of the day’s reading, pause to reflect on the specific areas you long to see made new and how Jesus’s ministry calls us to join in that restoration. Let these shape your prayers today.
Like our Day 5 reading on judgment and salvation, the picture of new creation in our own lives includes undoing and restoration. Some things in our thoughts, affections, and actions must be judged and set aside or put to death so we can actively be transformed.
After you’ve read, spend some time in prayer about how you can live in obedience to Christ because of the freedom He provides. Comment/share with the community anything that stood out to you or encouraged you from the reading or your time in prayer.
“.. for once you were in darkness, but now walk in light.”
So amazing of a passage to read today. I loved it. For sin no longer can restrain us in the shadows of darkness for God has shined his light of Grace on us and we are made new and cleansed of our sins.
I can’t use enough words to describe how unbelievable thankful and grateful I am of Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross for our sins. It’s such an overwhelming love that it is unfathomable to us. This Bible study has had me so excited for the next day readings.
Ephesians 4:29-32 spoke to me tonight. I have been angry and hurt by the way someone treated me, and it was even more upsetting because this person appeared to be a Christian. I had the “opportunity” recently to share my experience with several coworkers, revealing what this person had done, and causing them to judge him based on my experience. But I realize I went too far and spread bitterness and malice, rather than spreading forgiveness and Christ’s love. My reaction and desire for revenge was very human…but God calls us to be higher, to be different from the world, and to put these behaviors away.
The words that hit me the most was stop telling lies. Sometimes I over exaggerate something I’m telling. I don’t even know why I’m doing it honestly, and it just happens so fast. My prayers this morning is that I ask the Holy Spirit to help me not do that. That I need to think about my words and make sure that I am saying the right thing. I think because I can’t remember sometimes, those areas need to be filled with something. The truth is I can say I don’t remember how something happened, or what was said. I have freedom in Christ to do that.
I have found that when I put my focus fully on Christ and learning more about Him and delving even deeper into His Word, the things that are most sinful in my life seem to just naturally take a break. Or in other words, I don’t find the time for the sin, when focusing my full attention on Jesus and Scripture.
That being said, we are still told to “live in the world”, (albeit to “not BE OF the world”) and cannot shirk responsibility and obligations in the day to day. But remembering the quiet time I had in the morning, allows me a better chance at conquering the world (and family life) with a smile and not as much grumbling.
So I must consider myself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
“Sin has no dolinion over me because of God’s grace.”