Devotional Thoughts and Scripture

   Eph 4:22-24 --- to put off the old man and put on the new man ---- "which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness ---- (Created in the image of God). Please note that the old man is our self-centered nature and can be trained to be socially acceptable and to do, act, and speak in a righteous way to try to please God and remove guilt from ourselves.  However, that is in the end --- self-righteousness and not to any eternal value or reward.  The new man or in another similar thought in Rom. 8 talks of walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh.  Also, in Galations it says to walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill (satisfy) the lusts (excessive desires) of the flesh (or old man).  The secret is to fasten your spiritual eyes on Jesus and as in Rom. 8 to reckon yourselves dead to sin and alive to God.  Rom. 8:2 further enligtens us to this life of victory saying, "The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death"  Praise the Lord for His wonderful salvation and for changing us from glory to glory as we keep our eyes on Him and our hearts and minds fixed on His Word to us.  Just as our salvation is all by faith in Jesus, so our walk in this world is to be by faith -- looking unto Him, the Author and finisher of our faith.   Halleluyah, what a Saviour!

Eph. 4:25 - no lying, v. 26 -- don't stay angry as that gives place to the devil. 

v. 28 - don't steal any more, but do the opposite --- ie. work, a good job-- in order ro give to "him that needs".  Wow, God loves a cheerful giver --- to share our money with those in need.  To give instead of wrongfully try to get.

v. 29 - speak no corrupt communication, but do the opposite ---- speak what will edify (build up) to minister grace to the hearers.  To encourage.

v. 30 - grieve not the Holy Spirit of God (whereby you are sealed until the day of redemption.

v. 31 - Put away from you --- refuse it to operate in you --all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour and evil speaking and all malice.

v. 32 - Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another --- even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

Eph. 5:2  To follow God as dear children, to love as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.   Thought -----------Do you have an aroma pleasing to God -- like a bouquet of fragrant flowers?   Or do you smell like garbage to God?   To smell good, we must be good --- in Christ's goodness  (remember our own supposed goodness or righteousness in our own selves apart from God's Spirit working in and through us is as "filthy rags" in His sight as said in Isaiah 64:6.

v. 8 you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  So then "walk" (behave) as children of light.  If you feel dry and like dead, v. 14 says to arise from the dead and Christ will give you light.

Well Brothers and Sisters in Christ, hopefully this will be encouraging, strengthening as well as challenging.  Have a good day and the Lord Bless You.