Ephesians 4.17-32 (4)
Pray Psalm 103.1-4.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies…
Sing Psalm 103.1-4.
(Old 100th: All Creatures That on Earth Do Dwell)
O my soul, bless the LORD’s great Name!
His many benefits proclaim:
He pardons sins and heals disease,
and from the pit grants us release.
Read Ephesians 4.17-32; meditate on verses 25-29.
In your mind, what one word sums up these verses?
Preparation
1. What things are we to avoid?
2. What things must we do?
Meditation
Our verses for today are bookended by truth and grace. In between are examples of the two of these at work, and embedded amid these is a warning not to give place to the devil.
We cannot live in the truth unless we know the truth and are being sanctified by it (Jn. 17.17). If we would keep from falling into the trap of lies, we must know and love the truth and be well-exercised in practicing it.
This will help us keep our anger from becoming sinful and our greed and covetousness in check. Truth will move us to fruitful living so that we are always ready to share with others from the bounty God provides. And if truth is filling our soul all our words will be truthful and edifying, not false, self-serving, or otherwise corrupt. Where truth prevails, edification will be our aim, and God will flow grace through our lives and words to address the needs before us.
Serving Jesus isn’t about big, glamorous, well-produced events and programs. It’s about living daily in God’s truth so that His grace can spread to more and more people, issuing in thanksgiving to Him the Giver of all grace and every good and perfect gift (2 Cor. 4.15). Grow in the truth and be truthful in all the small stuff of your life. This will keep the channels of grace open so that God can make His Presence known in and through you.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
If we put on fresh, new clothes over dirty, rumpled clothes, we will end up a hot frumpy mess.
In the very same way, unless we put off the old self, the new person will not present as true, clean, and tidy.
Or even a tiny bit appealing.
Thus, we must put off lying, stealing, corrupt speech, and anything that gives the devil a foothold in our life. In other words, we must keep God’s Law.
Jesus spoke these words to those who believed Him, as we do.
“If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8.31, 32).
The truth makes us free, and lying keeps us caged by Satan—with no other way to parse that.
The truth is found in God’s Word. Therefore, freedom is found in following His Word. In truth.
The Truth protects us.
“He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler” (Ps. 91.4).
The Truth is eternally God.
“Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth” (Ps. 119.142).
“You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth” (Ps. 119.151).
The Truth is the Word.
“The entirety of Your Word is truth, and
every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Ps. 119.160).
The Truth saves and sanctifies.
“In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and
by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil” (Prov. 16.6).
The Truth guides us.
“When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…” (Jn. 16.13).
God is the Truth.
“And it is the Spirit Who bears witness, because the Spirit is Truth” (1 Jn. 5.6).
When we are in this Truth, and of this Truth, and by this Truth, we will speak “what is good for necessary edification” and “impart grace” to those in our Personal Mission Field (Eph. 4.29).
And best of all, we will be able to bring delight to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
“Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but the blameless in their ways are His delight” (Prov. 11.20).
“Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Prov. 12.22).
Happily and obediently, we gladly put on the new “according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4.24), to bring Him delight and to build and tend to His Body—the Church.
Reflection
1. What is your practice for making sure that you are always clothed with edifying words and deeds?
2. And when you aren’t, what do you do to get back 0n the Jesus path?
3. How would you counsel a new believer about this “putting off” and “putting on” way of life?
Lying is here put for every kind of deceit, hypocrisy, or cunning; and truth for honest dealing. He demands that every kind of communication between them shall be sincere; and enforces it by this consideration, for we are members one of another. John Calvin 1509-1564) Commentary on Ephesians 4.25-28
Pray Psalm 103.19-22.
Preview your day in prayer. Ask the Lord for strength for whatever is before you, for truth to guide you and for grace to spread through you to others.
Sing Psalm 103.19-22.
(Old 100th: All Creatures That on Earth Do Dwell)
He rules upon His throne in heav’n;
His sovereign rule o’er all is giv’n.
You angels, bless the LORD, rejoice,
who live in strength to heed His voice.
All you who serve Him, bless the LORD,
all you who heed His righteous Word!
Let all throughout the cosmos whole
unite to praise Him, with my soul!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we wrap-up our discussion of the Biblical teaching on justice. Our Read Moore podcast is working through The Gospel of the Kingdom, looking for the true Gospel of the Lord. The Crosfigell teaching letter continues our study of the life of Brigit, a contemporary of Brendan. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
