For Each Other

Surprise! It’s not all about Me. Or You. I know, our society likely has told you that ‘you can be anything you want to be’ but that isn’t so if you want to live in the image of God. When you repent of your former ways and commit to fully following the Way in Jesus, you put away everything that is false, untrue, deceptive, erroneous, wrong so that God can begin to express Himself through His Holy Spirit indwelling you.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. ¹

First is our nature changes: no falsehoods, only speaking the Truth with all, appreciating each other, recognizing the commonality we have in Jesus, not being easily provoked or vindictive and readily seeing the works of the Devil trying to invade our lives. Being children of the Light, we are intended to dwell in the Light and shun the darkness. Paul then lists lifestyle changes which should become part of the life of any disciple:

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 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. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ²

Practices which were normal behavior now become repulsive to us the closer to Jesus we live. The goal of the Christ-life is to be as close in relationship to the LORD as we can be and not resist any of the new Way He has for us in Him. The thief no longer takes what is others but becomes productive so that he can give. Corruption in any area of our life is replaced with the desire to be pure in speech and actions. Our desire is to build others up, to give them the grace God has given us. We set our hearts on not resisting the Holy Spirit as He guides us through living in restoration with God. We set aside all of the selfish ambitions that sought to make ourselves grander no matter the expense to others. We become selfless in minister Christ to all others. Our heart agrees with God’s forgiveness of us by now seeing others in the same light as God sees us. We serve the image of Jesus to all,

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. ³

It’s not about us and it is about Jesus. May God be glorified. Amen