Ephesians 4:31-32

"Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind)." Ephesians 4:31

Sound like anyone you know? It sounds like the whole world sometimes, doesn't it? I mean, it's like a kettle about to boil over, everywhere... nerves are set on the brink... tension between father and son, husband and wife, classmates, democrats and republicans, nation against nation, and it seems at times the whole world is just about to explode into all of the things Paul has mentioned. But Paul is still talking to Christians, and even if this passage was taken out of context, there is one tiny word that clearly identifies to whom this was written. It is the very first word... "let". Who in the world (without Christ) can "LET" this be banished by? Paul is still talking about the old sin nature within the Christian being replaced by Christ's new nature, and Christ is doing the work. The Holy Spirit sees and hears the bitterness in our hearts and softly says, "let that go now"... "don't worry about that"... "forgive, give that to the Lord, don't lash back, etc., etc.", and all we need to do is trust Him and "let" Him have His way with us. Let's read the next verse and look at these two verses together.

32. "And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you."

Now, from that word "let" in verse 31, we see Paul listed alot of things to let go of. These are things that are all the fruit of a sinful world filled with hate. For many of us, it was because of the impact that hate had on us, that we came to Him... That's where we found Him. And so, now that we have received Christ, He must replace that old nature that is still in there, hiding in us even. But, again, this word "let" is not much of an action word. There is not much work for you to worry about besides just allowing... letting go, to see this miracle happening. Our bend... our tendency is to examine the bitterness... keep picking it up to look at it. We keep crawling back to the things that made us the way we were. But here in verse 32 letting all this "stuff" be banished from us is easier in the focus upon what God has already done, instead!

You see, trusting the Holy Spirit's leading and following Him to "become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely]", is a great hand at letting go of the former. FALSE TEACHINGS, SUCH AS "THE SECRET", RIGHTFULLY USE THIS SAME PREMISE, BUT DO NOT LEAD TO CHRIST. Still, Taking you mind off the negative and focus instead, on the positive, yes, is a powerful principle... But it was and is still Christ's teaching and Christ's work. And so, for the Christian, we alone have His power behind this principle to really be changed. That is why we see these "money-making" false teachings come and go... rise up and fail. Without Christ, this regeneration... this renewing of the mind is simply unachievable.

We find here in this verse, the greatest motivator leading us to be more forgiving of people and life issues, when we consider what he says. Paul adds, "as God in Christ forgave you." Amen?

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 5:1 next time.

I love you.