There is so much here in the letter to the Ephesians that is important and speaks to me! I have to restrain myself from selecting the entire chapter for discussion. 😃
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
An important reminder in a world where we are told we must assert ourselves and push and shove to get what we want. We are called to be humble and gentle. Quite counter - cultural.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13
The apostles through teachers aren't called to do the ministry but to equip God's people to do the ministry!
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:16
We are formed by Christ and held together by him and we grow as each does their work.
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; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24
We are called to turn from our old life - to take it off and put on the new. As in Romans 12 there is a passive verb in being made new - it is God who makes the change. We make choices and he makes changes. God makes us like him: righteous and holy! Thank you God!
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:25
An example of putting off in our speech.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Another example in our speech- stop tearing down and build up!
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