“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)
This letter is supposed by Biblical scholars to be a
cyclical letter that may have started in Ephesus and worked its way around to
other churches in Asia Minor, such as the one in Laodicea. Ephesus was the ministerial hub of Paul’s
missionary work and it is there on his third trip that he found the believers
dealing with such things as black magic, cult religion and demons. Paul was quick to dispel any message that
offered less than Christianity, for within it
lies the very power of Almighty God. In
these verses we find the great Apostle reminding the recipients to put off
their old nature and put on their new self.
Imagine putting on a fresh, clean new set of clothes or in their case, a
new tunic, free from spot or wrinkle. In
our mind’s eye we should picture ourselves in this manner, for that is how God
sees us when He looks upon us. We are
cleansed; our mind, body and soul. We
are ambassadors of Christ. We are to
shun our old life, with our old, deceitful and sinful nature, and wear our new
self for all to see. Continuing to
dabble in the former things, when they are meant to be behind you, is nonproductive
and not at all conducive to right living according to God’s standard. As believers we should know better. Once we have tasted the fruit of
righteousness we should no longer crave that which is unwholesome. If we do then something is wrong. The closer we become to our God the more His
will and desires will become ours.
Otherwise, how can we possibly ever hope to show Christ to a dying world
by the way we live? Until next time,
walk with the King and be a blessing!
