Today’s scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32 (NRSV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me in this passage? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (David Zier):
When I first accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and then was baptized as a young teen, I somehow thought that I would miraculously change in an instant and become like Christ. Perhaps this is how it happens for some people, but this is not what happened to me!
I admit I may have been expecting too much and too soon, but I also may have been trying to take the easy way out as well. Let me explain.
In this scripture, we are told to put away our “old selves” and “former ways of life” and be renewed in our minds and to clothe ourselves with the “new me.” No one told me that it was going to take a lot of working with God to make this happen! The more mature I became, the more I realized that it is this working with God that is part of the new clothes we wear.
Becoming a new person in Christ and overcoming our old habits and old ways takes a lot of work; work that I was not very conscientious of when I first accepted Jesus. To seek what is more righteous, and do what Jesus would do is not always the the most natural thing to do. But when we clothe ourselves with God’s righteousness, we begin to seek to do what Jesus would do. In the end, we want to be kind to one other, compassionate, and forgiving, as God forgives us.
So, as you read today’s scripture, open yourself up to what God wants for you, and for how God wants you to live. Then it becomes clearer — becoming that transformed person in Christ is a journey, where we work with God continuously, even through our struggles, so we can become the disciple that God desires us to be.
Thought for the day: Where are you on your spiritual journey?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. Use the item above as a starting point, or consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.