Day 11: Ephesians 4:17-5:21
After reading that, someone might say, “Wow, that was a hard passage. How can I ever live that out in my own life?” Yes, today’s passage is one of those difficult passages. This passage contains a list of things we are not to do any more. There is a long list of don’ts:
1. Don’t lie.
2. Don’t lose your temper.
3. Don’t hold a grudge.
4. Don’t steal.
5. Don’t curse.
There are more, but you get the idea.
That, however, is not the really hard part. What we are to do instead can be really challenging:
1. Always tell the truth.
2. Control your anger.
3. Resolve your issues before going to bed.
4. Give to the needy.
5. Say only good and helpful things.
Chapter 5, verse 10 says: “Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.” To live what we read in the Scriptures, we must be intentional. We must intentionally remove from our lives those things that are displeasing to the Lord and take on those things that are pleasing to Him. Living what we read is a process, not an event.
Pastor Rod