If you are new to this blog, I encourage you to start with Intro [1] and then continue in order.
DAY 1 AND 2
I decided to make a list regarding the Gentiles and how they walk.
walk as the Gentiles do
1. in the futility of their minds v17
2. darkened in their understanding v18
3. alienated from the life of God
4. with ignorance
5. with hard hearts
6. become callous v19
7. given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity
And then look at what we are to do in light of the fact that we have heard about Christ and were taught in him.
But assuming you have heard about Christ and were taught in him v21
1. put off old self v22
2. be renewed in the spirit of your minds v23
3. put on the new self v24
-created after the likeness of God
-in true righteousness
-and holiness
DAYS 3- 6
Sets
Generally these lists are:
-what to put off
-what to put on
-reasons given
1. having put away falsehood
speak the truth with your neighbor
for we are members one of another v25
2. be angry and do not sin
do not let the sun go down on your anger
give no opportunity to the devil v27
3. let the thief no longer steal
let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands
so that he may have something to share with anyone in need v28
4. 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 v29
5. do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
6. let all bitterness
-wrath
-anger
-clamor
-slander
-all malice be put away from you
be kind to one another
-tenderhearted
-forgiving one another,
(reason?) as God in Christ forgave you
Questions to consider:
1. The new self was "created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." v. 24
2. I will never forget the first time I was confronted with the truth of this verse. In college, I started reading the Bible regularly for the first time. I grew up in the chuch, but I feel like there was more of a focus on the "don't"s rather than "do"s. I remember reading the first part of this verse: "29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths..." and reflecting, "ok, I think I do that. My words are ok." But when I read the rest, "but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen," I was so convicted! I thought about all the times I was sarcastic and joked with my friends. And while I don't think that was all wrong, it made me really think about whether my words were building others up and benefitting them. I heard so many "do not do"s growing up that I didn't realize that the Bible is full of positive exhortations, which I found so much more encouraging and challenging than most of the don'ts!
Now I think about how I say things. I need to be more gentle with my words, especially with my family. And I still want to think about building others up! There are a lot of things I could say that would be fine, but I don't want to just be fine. Life is short! And I want to make "the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16 NIV.
3. I just learned firsthand what it would mean to forgive more. I recently forgave someone of past hurts and it enabled me to show love to them with a better attitude!
4. When I get together with other women for coffee, I try to always ask them either what they are reading in the Bible or how I can pray for them and then pray with them. But I have some relationships that are even more intentional than that, and there is this understanding that we will share with each other what God is showing us as we read his word and spend time with him. If you don't have a relationship like this, take a chance and ask someone if they would be willing to get together and share what God is doing in their life, and that you intend to share with them. And then don't feel rejected if they say no. Just see it as a "not right now" for that person, or that God might be leading you to meet with someone else at this time.
DAY 1 AND 2
I decided to make a list regarding the Gentiles and how they walk.
walk as the Gentiles do
1. in the futility of their minds v17
2. darkened in their understanding v18
3. alienated from the life of God
4. with ignorance
5. with hard hearts
6. become callous v19
7. given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity
And then look at what we are to do in light of the fact that we have heard about Christ and were taught in him.
But assuming you have heard about Christ and were taught in him v21
1. put off old self v22
2. be renewed in the spirit of your minds v23
3. put on the new self v24
-created after the likeness of God
-in true righteousness
-and holiness
DAYS 3- 6
Sets
Generally these lists are:
-what to put off
-what to put on
-reasons given
1. having put away falsehood
speak the truth with your neighbor
for we are members one of another v25
2. be angry and do not sin
do not let the sun go down on your anger
give no opportunity to the devil v27
3. let the thief no longer steal
let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands
so that he may have something to share with anyone in need v28
4. 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 v29
5. do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
6. let all bitterness
-wrath
-anger
-clamor
-slander
-all malice be put away from you
be kind to one another
-tenderhearted
-forgiving one another,
(reason?) as God in Christ forgave you
Questions to consider:
1. The new self was "created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." v. 24
2. I will never forget the first time I was confronted with the truth of this verse. In college, I started reading the Bible regularly for the first time. I grew up in the chuch, but I feel like there was more of a focus on the "don't"s rather than "do"s. I remember reading the first part of this verse: "29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths..." and reflecting, "ok, I think I do that. My words are ok." But when I read the rest, "but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen," I was so convicted! I thought about all the times I was sarcastic and joked with my friends. And while I don't think that was all wrong, it made me really think about whether my words were building others up and benefitting them. I heard so many "do not do"s growing up that I didn't realize that the Bible is full of positive exhortations, which I found so much more encouraging and challenging than most of the don'ts!
Now I think about how I say things. I need to be more gentle with my words, especially with my family. And I still want to think about building others up! There are a lot of things I could say that would be fine, but I don't want to just be fine. Life is short! And I want to make "the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16 NIV.
3. I just learned firsthand what it would mean to forgive more. I recently forgave someone of past hurts and it enabled me to show love to them with a better attitude!
4. When I get together with other women for coffee, I try to always ask them either what they are reading in the Bible or how I can pray for them and then pray with them. But I have some relationships that are even more intentional than that, and there is this understanding that we will share with each other what God is showing us as we read his word and spend time with him. If you don't have a relationship like this, take a chance and ask someone if they would be willing to get together and share what God is doing in their life, and that you intend to share with them. And then don't feel rejected if they say no. Just see it as a "not right now" for that person, or that God might be leading you to meet with someone else at this time.
Comments
Post a Comment