Philippians 3:1-11

Key verse: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” (v. 7)

Paul is here warning the Philippians of “teachers” who will come and insist that they must first become proper Jewish converts before they can become legitimate disciples of Jesus. Nothing could be further from the truth, but Paul had already encountered these teachers elsewhere, and he knew their lies.

If being a loyal and righteous Jew counted for anything with Jesus Christ, Paul had it made! He was head and shoulders above most of the Jews around him in qualifications for Jewish righteousness, as he recounts in verses 4-6. But in verse 7, he renounces it all!

Paul knows, as we should know, that with Jesus, nothing counts except God’s grace, which we obtain only through faith in Jesus. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Paul is very clear in this letter that his goal is to “be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.” (v. 9)

How shall we apply this passage to life today? I would suggest that we must examine ourselves with clarity of thought and honesty in self-evaluation; are we in any way depending upon ourselves, trying in some way to earn our way into God’s favor?

Are we expecting a heavenly reward because our names are found on the enrollment records of a chuch, although not necessarily on the attendance records?
Are we expecting to join the rest of the family in heaven, because all the family claims to be Christian, so that is our “identity” also?
Are we gaining God’s favor by constant attendance at our church of choice and our service on multiple church committees?
Are we expecting God to grade on the curve, recognizing how much more righteous lives we live as compared to our neighbors and many of our friends.
Do our Bibles have more dog-ears, or more dust?
Is our righteousness measured (by us, of course) by the things we do not do; the commandment we do not break?
Are we more righteous than half the nation because we’re an enthusiastic supporter of the “correct” political party?

If any of the above apply to us, we’ve either never heard the true gospel of Christ, or we’ve failed to internalize it when we’ve heard it. We must, as Paul did, first recognize our sinfulness, in opposition to a pure and holy God, our complete and eternal unworthiness to take a place in heaven alongside Him. Recognizing our sin, we must repent, turning from our sin and to our Savior, Christ Jesus, for grace and forgiveness. Ask Christ Jesus to forgive your sins, and He will!

At this point, if we truly take to heart what Jesus has done for us, at how all-encompassing is God’s love and grace, we will understand that we cannot work our way to heaven, and we’ll work all the harder to pour out our own love for our Savior and our God.

Philippians 2:12-18

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (v. 12-13)

Do you remember how much better your behavior was as a child, when you were at your mother’s side shopping, as compared to when you were far away from her, out of sight? It appears that Paul was concerned about the same with the Philippian church.

The thing is, we’re not minding our behavior for Mom, or for Paul. We’re really trying to live our lives pleasing to God, and we’re never out of His sight! Paul encouraged the Philippians, and us, to be consistent in our behavior so as to bring glory to God.

But what does it mean to “work out your own salvation”? Haven’t we all been taught that we cannot earn, or work our way back into God’s favor? What is Paul saying here that would not be a conflict with the doctrine of salvation by grace?

I believe Paul is referring to the “work” we do to grow into the likeness of God, after we have been saved. Are we cooperating with God, opening our hearts to the work of His Holy Spirit within us, to grow us in the fruits of the spirit, as Paul wrote about in Galatians chapter 5? Are we growing daily in our expression of love, our joy in the Lord, the peace filling our hearts, in our excercise of patience, in our consistency of kindness, our purity of goodness, in our faithfulness to God’s Word, in our gentleness in dealing with others in difficult times, and in our self-control? Growing in those attributes which make us more like God is how we “work out our own salvation”.

As Paul points out, we’re not doing this alone. “It is God who works in you”. The question is, are we letting Him do that work, or are we stubbornly holding on to our past attitudes and habits?

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” (v. 14-18)

How can we stand out as shining, attractive examples in “the midst of a crooked and twisted generation”? Seems to me that doing “all things without grumbling or disputing” is a pretty good way to stand out from the crowd! If you feel you need some practice at that, a bit of exercise, start at home. We could consider taking the trash out without grumbling, or helping to wash the dishes without disputing whose turn it is. If we can get that right, perhaps the new attitude will spill over into our workplace, or our church service team.

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus said “You are the light of the world.” Paul encourages us to “shine as lights in the world.” What kind of light are we going to shine? Will it be the light of anger and dissention, or the light of love and peace?

Paul wanted to visit the Philippians and rejoice over them, taking great comfort in the growth of the fruits of the Spirit in their lives. If he were to visit you and I, would he be distressed, or similarly comforted?

Philippians 2:1-11

Read the full text of the selected scripture here.

As Paul wrote this letter, he was troubled by reports of strife and dissention within the church at Phillipi, which was discouraging to the Christians there and significantly interfering with the effectiveness of their witness for Christ. Paul encouraged them to be of one mind, working together for the spread of the gospel message.

Nice words, but within an atmosphere of strife, competition and jealousy, how do you achieve true unity? Paul gives us the answer in today’s passage: adopt the HUMBLE mind-set of Christ!

It is only with true Christ-like humility and the attitude of a true servant that anyone can let his/her “manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (1:27).

What creates strife and division within the church. Look at chapter 2 verse 3: “selfish ambition or conceit”. How was Jesus’ attitude different from so many of us? Paul tells us …

First, Christ Jesus WAS God and WAS co-equal with God. “Though he was in the form of God …” (v. 6). Jesus was co-creator of the universe, and the sustainer of the universe. He had position, power and accomplishments we can’t even dream about. What was His attitude about power, position and accomplishments?

He “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” (v. 6, ESV). To gain better understanding, let’s dig into the translated word “grasped” a bit further. Other translations render this as “used to his own advantage” (NIV), “cling to” (NLT), or “something to be exploited” (CSB). So Jesus didn’t selfishly try to retain His exalted position in Heaven with God to avoid the indignity of physical, temporal life on Earth. The Holy God stepped out of Heaven to join the masses of His sinful, unwashed creation, elbow-to-elbow, to walk the same dusty paths and eat the same food, to sleep on the same straw mats and sweat under the same hot sun.

As Ron Popeil would say on one of his infomercials, “but wait, there’s more!” Jesus could have been born into royalty as a prince and king-in-waiting, had He chosen to do so. He didn’t. He took on the form of a servant (v. 7), with no possessions and no power. He had disciples who followed him, not by His command but by their choice.

But He wasn’t done at that point. He was obedient to Father God, just as He taught us to be, and gave the example of a sinless life. His final obedience was to give His life on the cross for us, a sacrifice for OUR sins!

There is no possible greater example of humility. There is no possible greater example of putting others ahead of self. There was absolutely NOTHING selfish about Jesus, absolutely NO conceit. If the Philippian church could truly follow Jesus’ example, from the heart, there would be no strife, no division.

The same is true of my church, and yours. Division is a choice, not a necessity, and it’s a bad, sinful choice. I cannot control anyone’s attitude except my own, but at least for one person (myself), I can ensure that one person approaches service in the church with humility and selflessness.

Personally, I find yet another application in this scripture, one which may go beyond what Paul intended when he wrote this, but still an appropriate application. In consideration for all that Jesus has done for us, WHAT is too much for Him to ask of me? Where do I draw the line and say “Stop! No more!”? In view of all that Jesus has done for me, I can’t draw that line. I can’t establish a limit on what Jesus can ask of me. How about you?

Philippians 1:12-18

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

What an astounding statement, that “my imprisonment is for Christ”!! Paul had many issues to deal with as he was writing this letter, but the two he mentions here are his imprisonment and the rivalry of evangelists with ill intent, who were preaching out of the ambition to bring attention to themselves, or to appear to others as of greater importance than Paul.

But Paul says it doesn’t matter to him, so long as the true gospel is being preached, and sinners are being saved. As long as that is happening, Paul will rejoice!

But will we? Is the spread of the gospel that important to us? In Heaven, even the angels rejoice over one sinner who is saved! (Luke 15:10)

I’m concerned as I write this over two possible reasons our celebrations over salvation are muted. First, we may not realize how serious sin is; how seriously God takes it. We may not realize how drastically our sin breaks our relationship with God. While God loves the sinner enough to allow Jesus to die in his/her place on the cross (John 3:16), God with equal fervor hates the sin (Proverbs 6:16-19). Sin is an affront to God’s nature, and He cannot co-exist with sin. If we don’t understand sin as God does, we’re driving the car right off the cliff with a blindfold on.

The second concern is “cultural Christianity”, a form of religion which celebrates our own goodness instead of God’s glory, and fails to recognize our need for Jesus, if indeed Jesus is recognized at all (except for the Christmas pagent!). Cultural Christianity transforms our churches into religeous country clubs, and results in many “unsaved Christians”. The only possible thing I can think of worse than finding oneself in eternal punishment after the final Judgement, is being surprised to be there!

So I implore you to consider: are you saved? Is your family saved? Your neighbors? Do you truly understand how vital that is to be certain?

Paul gave us a great example of passion for the gospel. Let’s all follow his example.

Philippians 1:1-11

We begin a new book today, the last letter Paul wrote to a church or group of people. His following letters were written to individuals, Titus and Timothy.

Paul’s visit to Phillipi and his experiences there are recorded in Acts 16. Although a number of people were saved there and added to the Church, not all of Paul’s experiences would be regarded by most of us as positive. One of Paul’s converts was his jailer!

As Paul begins his letter, he sets a tone of joy which will continue consistently throughout his message to his church in Phillipi, which was his first church in Europe. He begins with “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (v. 3). Warren Wiersbe asks a most thought-provoking question: Could our pastors, or elders, say the same of us? Is my life, I would ask, and my expression of my faith, such that a church leader could be thankful for it?

In the next verse, Paul reveals that he consistently prays for the believers in Phillipi. Am I following Paul’s example and praying for the believers in my circle of contacts, expressing my joy in their faithfulness? I believe most of us could learn quite a lot by studying Paul’s prayers.

Paul goes on to express his certainty that “… he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (v. 6) What is that “good work”? Again, I’ll echo a thought from Dr. Wierbe:

God’s work for us is salvation.
God’s work in us is sanctification.
God’s work through us is service.

Has God begun a good work in you by saving you? “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 Are you allowing God to work in you to grow you into His likeness, or are you resisting change? Finally, are you allowing Him to work through you to serve others in His name? Are you praying for additional opportunities for sacrificial service?

Paul continues in verse 7 to reveal that his unity with the Philippians is not limited to a unity of mind, but also an emotional unity; “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace …” In addition to sharing the same beliefs, he shared with them also the same grace, and the same Holy Spirit. Does it stir your heart in a special way to be gathered together with believers who share your faith and your gift of grace?

Working as I did for a while as a traveling consultant, I had the opportunity to attend Wednesday worship with churches I would otherwise have never encountered. I had the blessing to experience first-hand the welcome and extraordinary fellowship with Christians I had only just met, because of our shared faith and blessings of grace and salvation.

In verse 9, Paul prays for the continued growth in their love for one another: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” As we mature in our Christian walk, our love should grow, as should our knowledge of God’s Word and our good judgement in applying it to our daily living.

The result of that growth is that we may “approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless”. What does it mean to “approve what is excellent”? The Contemporary English Version translates this as “make the right choices”. That’s probably as good a translation as we’ll ever see. Making the right choices will guide us into a pure and blameless life. Making the right choices is what “sanctification” is all about.

It has been said that one learns to make the right choices by making lots of wrong choices! That’s one way to do it, but it’s the painful way. Another way to do it is to marinate oneself in God’s Word, be constant in prayer, and always seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The result will be the judgement and will to make good choices, and hopefully fewer scars and wounds from learning the hard way.

Finally, Paul prays that the Philippians may be “filled with the fruit of righteousness”. That’s my prayer for you as well!

Ephesians 6:10-20

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” (v. 10-11)

Complete scripture text

In July of 1812, the British army captured Fort Mackinac from the newly-independent Americans with the firing of just one shot from a 6-pound cannon. The United States had been at war with Great Britain for a month, but the military force at Fort Mackinac didn’t know it! Secretary of War William Eustis had supposedly informed the fort commander, Lieutenant Porter Hanks, of the war, but he sent the notice in a standard postal letter, which of course didn’t arrive in time. (Not much has changed in the 213 years since!)

In verse 12 of today’s passage, Paul sends us a similar warning. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Many Christians are in a spiritual war, fighting for their eternal lives, and don’t even know there’s a battle going on!

Our world is full of “cultural Christians“, who identify with and appreciate Christian culture and values, but do not actively worship, and may not believe in all the core tenets of Christianity. A cultural Christian wears the “Christian” label, checks the “Christian” box on the survey form, but doesn’t really allow Jesus to affect his/her way of life. Many such Christians believe they are good people, and in contrast to the sinful world around them, that should be good enough.

They’re in a spiritual battle for their souls; they don’t know it; and they’re losing the battle!

Paul’s message to us today is two-fold. First, it is to wake up! To realize that there really is a spiritual battle going on, and we’ve got to join in the fight to have any hope of winning.

The second part of his message tells us how to win the battle. God supplies the armor; all we’ve got to do is wear it.

He begins with truth. We cannot be successful in anything in life if we’re operating on false beliefs. Our Enemy’s number one weapon, his favorite and most effective tool, is lies. Jesus called him “the father of lies“. Jesus said “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'” (John 8:31-32).

The “breastplate of righteousness” guards our hearts. If Satan can’t get to us through our minds, swapping the truth for lies, then he’ll try to get to us through our emotions. Our devotion to righteousness will carry us, with God’s strength, through those emotional attacks.

The “gospel of peace” keeps our feet on God’s path. It’s so easy to step off, if only for a moment. Oh, look, isn’t that pretty! What a sight! I must look closer! Without even realizing it, I’m off the path. Humans may be the pinnacle of God’s creation, but we’re so easily distracted.

The “shield of faith” protects us from Satan’s direct attacks. Sometimes all we’ve got left to hold on to is our faith. I don’t understand why I’m in these horrible, painful circumstances; I don’t understand why God’s allowing this to happen, but in all things and at all times, I trust Him. When your trust in God is all you’ve got, you’ve still got enough!

The “helmet of salvation” guards our minds from another of Satan’s weapons, FUD. What is FUD? Fear, uncertainty and doubt. John wrote “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” We need never fear, never doubt that God is faithful to fulfill all the promises He has made to his children. As John points out, we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, knowing for certain that He hears us in our distress and cares for us with compassion.

Finally, Paul points out that God has given us an offensive weapon, in addition to all the defensive armor for the battle. His Holy Word is the “sword of the Spirit“. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, His responses to Satan always quoted holy scripture. What we sometimes fail to pick up as we read through Matthew’s account of this event is that Jesus isn’t just getting through His own temptations of the day. He was also giving us a master class in how to handle our own temptations. Jesus was able to answer the Devil’s temptations because He knew God’s Word. Gospel writer Luke reports that, even at age twelve, in the temple speaking with the teachers, “all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2:47) That’s why we “abide” in His Word!!

To wrap it up for today, I don’t believe I’ve found any new insights which haven’t already been written many times over, but I do believe we all need the reminders, that we are in a spiritual battle, that we have been equipped to fight that battle, and that all we need to do to wn is to use what we’ve been given. Who will join me in the fight?

Ephesians 6:5-9

“Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.”

Continuing on the subject of Christ-centered relationships, Paul moves beyond the family circle and addresses believers in their roles outside the home as “bondservants.”

If you look up a definition for bondservant, you’ll find multiple definitions with varying shades or variations of meaning. Some definitions hold that a bondservant has no freedom, or is somehow bound or obligated to the master. Others say that a bondservant could have been free, but chose to remain bound to the master out of love and devotion. Going to the Greek word “doulos” from which it is translated, some instances of usage in the Bible appear to have a meaning closer to what we would call a “slave”.

In any case, bondservant refers to a person whose labor is not necessarily or strictly for their own benefit, but either exclusively or primarily for the benefit of another.

With that background, it’s not at all a stretch of Paul’s original intent to apply his message here to employees (who may occasionally feel like slaves!), or in the case of retirees, even to volunteer workers. The point is, what’s your attitude to those whom you are serving with your labor?

Paul calls out those whose attitude is that of eye-service, people-pleasers; those who labor with a smile on their face and a grumble in their hearts. Some of us find ourselves working with resentment and resistance, but struggling to appear cheerful and cooperative. Paul says we need to clean up our attitude!

Instead, Paul offers an alternate mental picture: suppose we’re working directly for Jesus, the one who died in our place to save us, the one who loves us beyond all understanding. How pure would our joy then be in working for Christ Jesus? Paul says to work for your employer, or your volunteer leader, or even your slave-driver, with that frame of mind!! Present a work product you’d be proud to be presenting directly to Jesus.

Such a pure motive for excellent work is promised not to go unnoticed. Your boss may not (probably won’t) notice. Your co-workers will probably think they could have done better. However unappreciated you may feel at work, or at home, you have the promise that Jesus will notice!

The same admonition goes for bosses – that is, supervisors, managers, CEOs, etc. In addition, Jesus notices how you treat your employees. Jesus doesn’t care about how important or powerful your position is within the organization. Doesn’t matter if you’re digging the ditch, or designing the freeway – we’re all on level ground at the foot of the cross!

So, my friends, I encourage you to ask yourself the same question I’m asking myself after studying these verses: How is my attitude? Am I resentful about the work I’m asked to do, either at the office, or jobsite, or at home? Am I working to please the eye of whomever may be looking at the moment, or to please my True Master, who sees all and knows all?

Ephesians 6:1-4

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Paul continues his discourse on family relationships within Christ-centered homes, moving on from husbands and wives to address the relationship of children to their parents. We’re all familiar with this passage, but that can be a problem! How often have we glossed over the obvious “surface” meaning of Paul’s message, and failed to look deeper? Let’s do just that today.

Jesus, in Matthew chapter 7, taught about God’s care for His children (i.e., all of us!) by comparing that relationship to that of a caring father and his son. “Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?” (v. 9-10) Just as Jesus used a familiar family relationship to model our trust relationship with the Holy Father, Paul’s instruction here to children about their Earthly relationship models a deeper meaning about our own relationship with our God.

Children are expected to obey and give honor. Jesus gave this same instruction to His disciples, and through them to all of us, in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” In contrast, Paul condemned in Romans chapter 1 those who failed to honor God. “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (v. 21)

My application here is to ask myself “Do I obey and honor God as the true Sovereign of my life, consistently? If I were my child, would I be pleased with my obedience?”

God doesn’t give us rules to obey, just to see us jump to His command! Everything He commands of us is for our own good. We may sometimes be too foolish to see it, but it’s always true.

In verse 4 of today’s scripture, Paul turns his attention back to fathers in this parent-child relationship. Note that Paul holds fathers responsible for discipline and instruction. Not mothers, fathers!

Men, are we taking the lead as we should in discipline and teaching? It’s wonderful to have the support of Godly wives and mothers, but let us never forget that God our Father has left that responsibility to us! We are the ones who will answer for our children when called to account in the Heavenly courts. Will we be ready to answer?

Ephesians 4:32 – 5:2

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

In the midst of a lengthy discourse on Christian living, emphasizing many types of sin to avoid falling into (4:1-31, 5:3-20), Paul interrupts himself to present this mind-bending challange!

Who among us has not had someone in our life we’ve struggled to forgive? For many Christians, our family and closest friends are also Christians, and it is those closest to us who have the greatest capacity and opportunity to hurt us. I’ll admit, it didn’t take me long to think of an example in my own life!

Beyond the challenge to forgive, Paul also gives us a roadmap to achieve this challenge. We must first be kind and compassionate. I address these two words together because they’re so closely related in meaning. A kind, compassionate person understands the feelings of other people, thinks about their motives from their own point of view, and shares genuine concern for their well-being. Kind, compassionate people are generous, with both their resources and their time. They are considerate, respectful and supportive. Kind, compassionate people are willing to help and keep a positive attitude. Such people aren’t this way merely to impress or manipulate others, but are genuine and authentic in their empathy and care.

If that seems exceedingly hard with respect to a person whom you struggle to forgive, Paul gives an example to follow: God Himself! Think how much God has forgiven you! Can anyone’s slights and hurts ever begin to approach the level of our own sin which God has forgiven?

All of us want our children to grow up adopting and living our own values and most cherished beliefs. If you are kind, you want your children to be kind as well; to follow your own example in life. We are God’s children, and He wants the same for us; to be compassionate and forgiving as He is compassionate and forgiving to us.

What did it cost God to forgive us? Only His beloved Son; His life and His blood. What will it cost you or I to forgive the person we need to forgive?

There is, for each of us, a here-and-now compensation when we follow God’s example to forgive. Perhaps Corrie ten Boom said it best: “Forgiveness is setting the prisoner free and discovering the prisoner was you.”

Whom do you need to forgive? Whom do I need to forgive? When will we begin to follow God’s example of kindness and compassion?

Ephesians 4:17-32

Read the complete scripture reference.

Key verses: “Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (v. 22-24)

Paul challenges the Ephesian church, and through them, us also, to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (v. 1), by putting off the old self and putting on the new self. But what a challenge! This is the hard part!!!

It is so much easier to claim Christ in our own minds, and even in our speech, than it is to live out a daily witness to Him, so contrary to our natural inclinations and desires. In these verses, Paul gives us the help we need to do just that. He first reminds us of that from which we have been saved, namely a “futility of mind” and “darkening in our understanding”. Before Christ we were “alienated from God” by the “hardening of our hearts”. Christ Jesus has saved us from all that!

Take note here that what follows does not come naturally. Paul notes in verse 21 that these are things the Ephesians need to have been taught as do we.

Paul first reminds us to “be renewed in the spirit of your minds”. Notice he didn’t say “renew yourself in the spirit of your mind”. This isn’t a self-improvement project, but is rather a work which God will do within us through His Holy Spirit. Our part is to let Him do His work within us, and to be patient, waiting upon His timing in our lives. We must remind ourselves that God uses people and experiences in our lives to shape us more into His image. Those aren’t always our favorite experiences, at the time! Rather than praying for God to get us our of our difficult circumstances, maybe we need to pray more often to get the growth out of those circumstances which God wants us to get.

Paul goes on to give us some very practical instruction on how to live out the challenge within our key verses above. First, he says to “put away falsehood” and “speak the truth”. If this doesn’t sound like much of a challenge, then we’re not thinking it through very deeply. Do we consistently tell the truth when we’re caught doing something we shouldn’t have been doing anyway? Do we consistently tell the truth when doing so will cost us real money, enough to hurt? Do we consistently tell the truth when doing so will probably blow an opportunity we’ve been longing for? Don’t just speak the truth when it’s easy – speak the truth especially when it’s hard!

Verse 26 is a surprise to many: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Many Christians would think it a sin to be angry, but not Paul. We know we shouldn’t be angry about selfish things, like when we’ve been cut off in traffic, or somebody else just scored the last concert ticket available. (Or, in my house, the last doughnut!) There are times, however, when a Christian should be angry, like injustice and abuse. We don’t have to respond to this righteous anger in sinful ways, but it can be an energy spark to set us on the course of constructive action to right the wrongs around us. I fear that most Christians’ anger problems are not about being angry, but about being angry over the wrong things and not over the right things!

Much of the Bible is summarized in the seven words of verse 27: “and give no opportunity to the devil”. Our adversary doesn’t need much of an opportunity at all, just a little bit of inappropriate anger, or an opportunity to avoid a conflict with just a slight shading of the truth. The devil is expert in turning just a small mis-step into a cascade of evil, if only we let him. Want to look into this concept in considerably more depth? Check out Louie Giglio’s book Don’t give the Enemy a Seat at your Table.

When we get to verse 28, we Christians have a tendancy to think we’re now “free and clear”. Very few of us have robbed a bank in the last few weeks, or knocked over a convenience store. The more pertinent question may be, is our labor honest? Are we really giving our employer a full day’s work in exchange for that full day’s pay? Paul reminds us why we’re working: so that we “have something to share with anyone in need”. Do we constantly work with one eye open to find those with whom we can share? If our God sends the rain equally upon the just and the unjust, are we just as non-judgemental as He is in our generousity?

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (v. 29) What is “corruption”? In chemical terms, a good definition is “that which degrades whatever it touches”. Is my speech like that? Are people around me morally or spiritually degraded because they’ve heard what I said? OR, are our words consistently gracious and helpful? Does what we choose to talk about and how we say what we say serve to build up those within our hearing? Are people around me made better and blessed because they’ve heard what I said?

Commentators I’ve read tend to apply “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” specifically to Paul’s admonition about gracious speech, but in my own mind, it applies much more broadly, to anything I think, anything I say, or anything I do. Whatever it is, how does it affect the Holy Spirit living within me? Do I do things which would make the Spirit feel like “I don’t want to be here right now.”? I’ll admit that I have in times past done just that! I don’t want to ever go there again, but making that ambition a reality goes right back to “give no opportunity to the devil”. What’s a good place to print that verse and stick it up where you can see it? On you car’s visor? On your computer monitor? On your phone?

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, …” (v. 31) Bitterness and anger are, quite simply, an opportunity for the Enemy. If he can get us to feel bitter about the injustices of life, anger at how we’ve been [mis]treated, he’s got his opportunity. Bitterness and anger are root causes of the clamor, slander and malice which Paul warns us against. Can I take my anger, my disappointment, my bitterness, and hand it over to God to handle for me? Can I put these things in His hands and never try to pick them up again?

If I can do that, it will be so much easier to “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (v. 31). Don’t you just LOVE being around kind, tenderhearted people? Sure you do! So does everyone else! If I can be that kind, tenderhearted, forgiving person, then I will find that I’m drawing others closer to me, in Jesus’ name.

My prayer: “Holy Father, I know I’m not fully living out the new life that Paul described in this scripture. I know that I still create opportunities for the devil to gain a foothold in my life, a seat at my table. I know that I sometimes hold on to my anger at the failings of others around me, and in turn fail to be kind and gracious to them. PLEASE draw me closer to You each and every day. Please help me to speak with consistent grace, blessing those who hear. Please help me to NEVER grieve Your Holy Spirit living within me. Please to be consistently kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. In Jesus’ most Holy name, Amen.”