What a challenging chapter! I’d challenge you to reread the first three verses and the end of the chapter starting at verse 25. These verses remind me of 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” The first three verses are the new that’s coming: patience, gentleness, humility, etc. The last verses speak of throwing away the old: malice, falsehood, bitterness, etc.
It’s not a job for the immature that is for sure. Verses 14-16 look at the fact that we need not be infants any longer in our faith. If we want to be no longer blown around we need to build ourselves up in love. This means putting off that old self and continually putting on the new self. Can you image how much better life would be when patience reigns over bitterness and gentleness over malice?
Guess what? It’s not just our quality of life that is at sake here either. Verses 10-13 & 16 remind us that the whole body of Christ is in this. We work together and use our gifts. We build each other up in love. As Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” I’m encouraged that you are reading blog and spending time in God’s word. As we continually spend time with God we will naturally be transformed more into God’s likeness.
Posted by Danny
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
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