Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Ephesians 6:16, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

That little word “all” holds a lot of truth in Ephe. 6:16. It means in every circumstance, in every situation, not just some instances. On every occasion, Paul is telling us, “take up the shield of faith” and is represented as a shield, protecting us from those persistent efforts of demonic forces to weaken us through fear, doubts, lies, and unbelief. The piece of protection Paul was referring to, used by front line soldiers, was a large, oblong shield that could protect the whole body. It was two feet wide and four feet long, shaped like a door with two layers of wood fused together, with bulls hide glue, and then the outside surface was covered with canvas, and then leather. The upper and lower edges were bound with iron for strength and durability. When a soldier crouched down, his whole body was completely protected and covered from top to bottom of his body with this shield, besides wearing his other pieces of armor. During combat, in Paul’s time, the idea was to injure the enemy and confuse and cause panic by shooting fiery darts at him on all sides, and above his head, with a massive number of arrows. The strategy was to use confusion and terror, dispel any logical thinking, and install a lack of trust. The same is true for us today.

Think about it. When you are confused and fear sets in, and maybe panic, do you always think logically? Is clarity quickly seen at first glance? When extreme stress and pressure keep mounting, how does it take you out? Was it caused by fear of failure, an insult, receiving feedback of an extreme critical nature, or saying yes to too many things? That is often when anger, sarcasm, envy, cynicism, gossip, pride, doubt, despair, become the natural reaction(s), and every one is a sin. Remember, Satan will use your strengths and weaknesses, interests, and tendencies, to bait, confuse, cause panic by snagging and targeting you, to take you down.  Do you then withdraw from the world in isolation, or do you give in to sensory escapism, such as overeating or other vises? We all can say, unfortunately, and shamefully, been there, done that.

But our shield of faith extinguishes – “all” – every wrong thought, all fearful feelings, imaginations, doubts, and lies, that are hurled at us by Satan and hurls them back. It deflects “all the flaming darts of the evil one” when we take up the shield of faith.

“Active faith is a shield. Faith says less about you and more about what you really believe to be true about God.” Priscilla Shirer. Our shield of faith will extinguish confusion and panic as we believe God is telling us the truth as we read His Word.

What truth did God show you this week? I would love to know what God is doing in your life. You can share by writing your comment(s) below. We are all in this together, in holding onto our shield of faith, to distinguish confusion and panic in our life. I admit, I don’t always make a connection between what God has done in the past and what He is currently doing in my life. But I do know, and have applied this truth, from God’s Word, this very week, “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16.

Listen to Casting Crowns – Voice of Truth song.

Ephesians 6:10-11, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Is it possible for our faith to grow stronger during a time of waiting? Abraham’s did, as Paul stated in Romans 4:20, “No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he promised.” Abraham fully believed God could be relied on to do what he had promised, so he fully trusted and honored God. I must do the same.

Paul quotes, in Ephe. 6:10 of 1 Samuel 30:6, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” David turned to God, when he heard the people were thinking of stoning him, because they blamed David that their wives, sons, and daughters, were taken captive by the Amalekites (David’s included). Rather than giving into despair and anxiety, David turns to God in worship and prayer (Ps. 56:3-4). That is how David remained strong in his Christian walk. Then David, under God’s direction, ends up rescuing the people. But he first turned to God, gave God the glory, and spent one-on-one time with God before going into battle – so must I.

How do you strengthen yourself in the Lord and become a leader, leading like Jesus did? Leading like Jesus is a day by day assignment in intentionally focusing on Jesus and having a deep commitment to Him, rather than being overly self-focused. I need to check myself if I am overthinking how I am doing, how I feel, and how I am being treated. I have been learning, that in my Leadership Voice style, that is the natural tendency, plus having a strong, self critical nature. There needs to be a balance. When I don’t feel good about myself, I need to turn back to the love of God, draw near to Him, and the support of Christian friends.

We need to remind ourselves that “life is not an encounter group. Life is not a bonding meeting. Life is not a playground. Life is a battleground.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, New Testament.

It all goes back to getting back to the basics – follow Jesus and do what He has told you to do. I need to have a balanced life and not get into extremes, and keep examining whether my strength in Christ is increasing or decreasing? Am I relying on the Lord’s strength and power and then becoming a doer of His work, or too easily give up?

God has given me, and each believer, a full set of equipment to use in the battle against the enemy of God. Remember, on the cross of Christ, demonic powers were stripped of their power to accuse Christians before God (Colossians 2:15). Yet they still exist to incite evil, because they know that their time is short (Rev. 12:12). But putting on every day our spiritual armor, the whole armor of God, gives us the shield of righteousness to be fully armed in being fit and prepared for combat, all in God’s strength and power as we walk in victory, in applying our faith, found in the truths of His Word.

Listen to Toby Mac’s, Move (Keep Walking) (Lyric Video)

Ephesians 5:15-17, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Put your name in Ephesians. 5:15-17, in the blanks: “_______________ look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil. __________________, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Doesn’t that make these verses in Ephesians 5 more personal? God speaks to us in His Word, and He spoke to me this week in these verses. I do not want to be foolish. Does it prompt any opportunities that come to mind for Christ, throughout your day, in your mind?

David Guzik, in his commentary in the Blue Letter Bible, says, “The idea behind redeeming the time is that you buy up opportunities like a shrewd businessman. You make the most of every opportunity for Jesus Christ.” I need to do that better. I need to be more aware of opportunities to shine the light in pointing people to Christ throughout my workday. That is how I can be an imitator of God and seize the opportunity to apply Christian principles, I believe and know, in every situation that comes into my day.

Paul pointed out that “the days are evil.” No one can dispute that! Indeed we see it all around us more and more. No state in the U.S. is exempt, as no other foreign country is exempt as well. The days are evil; how I would love to sit and have coffee with Paul and discuss this with him. He would have so much to say and would remind me of what he wrote in Romans 1:21-22, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.”

But we have the whole Word of God to give us wisdom, guidance, knowledge, and comfort. The church people at Ephesus did not, they only had Paul’s letter to them. We have the truth right in our hands in understanding what the will of the Lord is by having the Old Testament and the New Testament. It comes from the knowledge we receive from reading His Word and the Holy Spirit filling us in imparting its truth into our mind and heart. So as I am reading God’s Word and applying it to my life, I will not be foolish and unwise. Paul summarized his earlier statements in reminding and admonishing us to walk worthy, walk in the light, walk wisely, and keep in step with the Spirit.

Chuck Swindoll has said, “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” Some weeks are more challenging than others, aren’t they?

Yes, the days are dark, and they are evil. Christ’s return is sooner today than it was yesterday. But we need to be redeeming the time for Christ’s return, like a shrewd person in business deals, diligently using every opportunity to glorify God, because our eternal assets reside in Heaven, not on this earth.

When walking, or exercising, or even while standing in line at the grocery store, pray about things and people that come to mind. Bring the Lord into every aspect of your life, using your time wisely.

Listen to Danney Gokey’s Only Jesus (Live)

Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

What does it mean for you to be an imitator of God? What does that look like to you? I have been asking myself that question all week. What steps do I need to take, as a follower of Christ, to then be a better and graceful emulator of God’s ways, in showing love to others better? What else is needed?

Paul didn’t say, “Think about God” or “Analyze how God is to be admired.” No, he called us to practical action steps to take, going beyond our natural tendencies and reactive styles and leadership voices. We are to be loving, humble, forgiving unconditionally, truthful, showing kindness, and not to sin when giving in to anger, in being imitators of God’s holiness in all of our conduct as we submit to the Holy Spirit’s influence in our lives.

I need to remind myself how important it is to show compassion and appreciation to others when it is not my natural reaction during heated communication times of disagreement on topics of conversation. Each one of us can be right and yet wrong at the same time. I need to have more patience and not overthink things. I also need to take time each day to encourage someone who doesn’t necessarily deserve it and show undeserved forgiveness., which is the supreme evidence of God’s love. That would be becoming an imitator of God and reflecting His character better. That is where I need growth. What is your area you need to grow in being an imitator of God?

Don’t you relish when someone shows kindness to you or your children? Paul had just stated to the church at Ephesus in Ephe. 4:32 that they needed to be kind to one another. Showing kindness requires being sensitive to others’ feelings and not holding grudges because you forgive quickly, just as God has forgiven you. Matthew 5:7 declares, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Falling into passive-aggressiveness, during times of stress, would be squelched when truly being an imitator of God. Our thoughts and behavior should always be guided by this vision.

When you feel like you need a much deserved time out, a time to think and re-evaluate things, focus on all God has done for you, taking time to slow down and recalibrate your mind and heart with His. Then we can say to others, “God did something in my life, and I have to tell you about it!”

The Message version says it this way of Ephe. 5:1-2, “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.”

Listen to Kari Jobe and Codi Karnes, song The Blessing (Lyrics), 3/18/2020.

Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

I think we all are weary and fed up with all of the perpetual fault-finding, arguing, and hatred spewing forth in our political scene and in the news, these past few months. But what about within our own Christian circles when we point fingers and make slanderous accusations within the body of Christ? Paul saw a problematic, on-going, and hurtful situation within the church at Ephesus and spent many sentences warning and calling out the sin of anger in all of the various forms it comes out as, such as a brooding, smoldering, grudge-filled attitudes. Forgiveness is in sharp contrast to bitterness and malice, and is a safeguard for our emotional stability and mental health. Intimacy and closeness with Jesus is all based on forgiveness (Matt. 6:14,15) and showing kindness.

In various dictionaries, I found that the word “bitterness” was defined as a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will. Smoldering resentfulness was listed. Webster’s dictionary stated the meaning of “bitterness” involved, “A state of extreme impiety or enmity to God; tending to draw persons to apostasy.” This shows how dangerous the sin of bitterness is as it heads the list of the other sins that Paul names in Ephe. 4:31-32.

“Wrath” has to do with rage and often has to do with the moment’s passion.

“Anger” starts out internally and pours out from internal hostility.

“Clamor” is strife out of control.

What about “slander?” Why doesn’t that sin get much attention in our Christian circles compared to the other sins? Is it because of having a lack of humility which turns into pride and arrogance? I think of what Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 3:4, “For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?” Paul was disappointed in the Corinthian Christians that were having divisive behavior and acting out of jealousy. Paul was clear that he was a servant of Christ, as was Apollos, as was Peter. “For we are God’s fellow workers.” The results are all left in God’s hand of grace and power, and God used all. The question to be answered is are you, am I, following Jesus above any other person?

Am I able to put Ephe. 4:31-32 into practice when I have been wronged or someone in my family has been unjustly treated? I have my responsibility and God has His divine responsibility. I take comfort in Romans 12:19 that declares, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the LORD.” I will admit there is an instance I am praying for God to do just that currently. I have given God a specific amount I would like to see Him do, to be received provisionally, from a wrongful financially hurting situation caused for a family member of mine that is just plain wrong.

Too often I feel “they” need to pay for what they have done (not just for this current situation), in any instance that causes me loss, pain, and heartache. Do you? But what is the command, the fact, stated in these verses to apply? What character traits of God are shown here? Looking in the mirror, am I reflecting those same characteristics? What do I need to remove from my thoughts, my heart, when what I have sincerely done, and is my best effort, is misinterpreted and criticized wrongly, or maybe not even acknowledged? Have my words or thoughts then hurt the Holy Spirit? Those are hard questions to answer.

As the Amplified Bible’s version of Ephesians 4:31-32 states, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor (perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding) and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice (all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence). Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted (compassionate, understanding), forgiving one another (readily and freely), just as God in Christ also forgave you.”

Listen to Danny Gokey’s song Love God, Love People, July 23, 2020, (lyrics).

Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Paul has just talked about having control over our words coming out of our mouths (Ephe. 4:26-27). That they should be used to build others up in being helpful, and not be corrupt in spewing anger, and obscene language. Words hold power and should reflect the power of the Holy Spirit residing in us. Have you noticed that when the pressure is on, and we feel emotional stress, our life becomes unstable, and our real heart’s condition is often revealed? I would say that I have been guilty, when my trigger point is engaged, in not staying cool, calm, and collected. How about you?

When your tires on your car become unbalanced, you will feel vibrations in the steering wheel. You may have steering problems, uneven tire wear will occur, and the lousy fuel economy emerges because the unbalanced tires have put more pressure on the engine. When we have our lives so out of balance in not having consistent communion with our Heavenly Father and reading His Word, our life needs some repairs, rebalancing, and recalibration spiritually. There is not a curse word or thought that God hasn’t heard. There is nothing that shocks Him. “God is not grieved by how our speech, anger, or malice affects Him, but by how it affects us. He’s grieved not because He can’t handle our sin, but because it hinders Him from doing His work in, through, and for us.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, New Testament.

The Holy Spirit is our helper, comforter, helper, teacher, advocate, divine resident of our heart, has secured our salvation, and has guaranteed, certified, sealed, and confirmed, our promise of eternity with God. Our stamp of divine approval in Christ comes from the Holy Spirit and is God’s personal mark of our eternal redemption’s genuineness. Therefore, my motivation in keeping myself in proper balance with Christ needs to be to live out Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on these things.”

Grieving the Holy Spirit can lead to quenching (1 Thess. 5:19) and giving up power and blessings. The Holy Spirit is grieved when lying instead of speaking the truth occurs, stealing in any form, and speaking corruptly instead of uplifting others and having balanced graciousness, which draws others to His grace. We need to have righteous anger in injustices seen but not delve into unrighteousness. Love, joy, and peace are fruits of the Spirit produced in us when we obey Him. What violates the will of God grieves the Holy Spirit.

When your habits and attitudes fall out of line with not having the mind of Christ, realize you are being taunted by an opposing batter. Harboring unforgiveness, gossip, and/or nursing hurt feelings are not from the Holy Spirit (James 3:14-16).

The Message states Ephe. 4:30, this way, “Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.”

Listen to King & Country It’s Not Over Yet (Lyric Video)

Ephesians 4: 29, “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.

With all of the hate talk reported in the news and the media, I wonder if Paul was alive today if he wouldn’t send out Tweets and Facebook posts from Ephesians 4:29. He might say something like, “Each word you give to others is a gift – don’t forget the bow!”

Remember when your mother would say to you, when you were a child, “If you can’t say anything nice about a person, then do not say anything at all!” Mothers have godly wisdom. Look at what Paul says in Colossians 3:8, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” There is that word “all” again – all means all! Solomon’s solution for halting angry reactions of rhetoric, is found in Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.” I need to remember that better next time I am tempted to yell back at someone whose volume level is raised towards me. Another parallel verse from Paul on this subject, is Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Words hold so much power and influence. They can crush or lift up others.

Think of a time when someone said just the right and fitting words to you on a specific occasion. I can think of a few, and those people have a special place in my memory that practiced Ephe. 4:29 in my life. In particular, one was from our Pastor Todd, when he told my husband and me, “There is always an ending to every problematic situation. This will have an ending.” I still remember that simple sentence. That was part of a conversation that gave us hope and a reminder that God is faithful, which helped us in having courage and strength needed in an unfortunate situation.

So how has God been speaking to you recently? Do you hear words of comfort, guidance, ready defense, grace, and instruction, counsel, or correction, as you have read His Word this week and in prayer, listened to a particular Christian artist’s song, or even through other Christian believers? I like to write down in my journal notebook when God speaks to me from verses popping out off the page, or something from a Christian author’s book I am reading, to reread and remember later. I don’t want to forget what He is telling and teaching me while renewing my mind and attitude (Ephe. 4:24).

To you, my dear reader, you are a priceless gem, and I treasure you!

Words coming out of our mouth need to be given as fitting gifts, so don’t forget the bow!

Listen to Matthew West’s Take Heart

Ephesians 4:26-27, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity  to the devil.”

There seems to be so much hate and anger displayed all around us these days. The media, political scenarios, and conflict, perhaps even within families and our jobs, that is displeasing and can insight the emotional arousal of anger. I have seen a lot of anger around me this week, haven’t you? In Paul’s time, back in Ephesus, the body of believers had the same circumstances. Some things never change because sin is sin.

It is not wrong to feel angry over injustices. Not all anger is a sin. But when we are consumed by it, the problem takes root, and it will enter into our brain and land inside what is called the Lymbic System of our mind. The Lymbic System is where we feel things. That is when we need to take a cleansing breath, pause, maybe walk around the room, and allow that fear or anger emotion to move to the front of the brain, where rationality resides to respond logically. Notice there seems to be a time limit element that Paul is stating in Ephe. 4:26, about “do not let the sun go down on your anger,” in not letting anger sprout into sin. Our beliefs and fears, whether reasonable or not, are expressed by our feelings.

No one can afford to have a thought that God does not have regarding our opinions and responses in our workplace, family interactions, and public places. I need to ask myself, “What is God’s perspective on this?” When I try to fight my own battle, I need to remember and acknowledge that I have the greatest warrior guiding me, just as Moses had God leading him in battles (Exodus 15:2-7). What combat missions have you had to experience this week and how did you react to the people involved? Did you feel you needed some comforting by someone?

When Jesus overturned tables in the temple, He was not angry because His feelings were hurt, or because He felt ignored. He set the example. “He was angry because people were being hindered from worshipping the Father freely.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary New Testament. This was a judgment against sin, by Jesus cleansing the temple, as was God’s judgment in Num. 25:4 and Jer. 4:8; 12:13, where the phrase, “the anger of the LORD” was stated regarding God’s anger against people continuing in their sin, so the punishment was great destruction of their land.

“The devil’s work is to accuse and divide the family of God, and to sow discord among them. When we harbor anger in our heart, we do the devil’s work for him.” David Guzak. Are you aware that Satan can work while you sleep? If you argue about some disagreement before going to bed and don’t get it resolved before laying your head on that pillow, when you wake up in the morning, bitterness and resentment have brewed and often turn into anger, just as Paul warned not do in Ephe. 4:26. I confess I have been there – done that and don’t recommend it.

James 4:7-8 admonishes us to, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” The enemy has a good chance for advancement and progress in the temptation of anger in his attack. We need to be quick to say, “I’m sorry” to the person we have wounded. Have righteous indignation where required, but pray for God’s values in the outcome of the resolution and apply them. Flee to Jesus!

The MSG version states Ephe. 4:26-27 this way: “Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry – but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the devil that kind of foothold in your life.”

Listen to – Face To Face by Natalie Grant. 7/11/20

Ephesians 4:17-18, “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”

The Gentiles, Paul referred to, were in denial of the true God and therefore denied any standard of morality that they must answer to. They were either atheist, or they believed in gods who were themselves immoral. Sounds familiar to our modern culture’s ways, doesn’t it? We all have to keep on keeping on, in our walk with the Lord, in growing closer to Him and knowing Him better, more intimately each day.

My husband and I just returned from a 4,230 mile road trip to see my parents in NW Iowa, and brother and sister-in-law. We had the opportunity to visit with a few cousins along the way. I saw that each one has their own stressful issues, including my 94 yr. old parents, to deal with, and a cultural political shift in their state where they live, besides us here in California. So we all are to live up to what a Christian is and walk worthy of our calling (Ephe. 4:1). The challenge is set before us, just as it was with the church in Ephesus, back in Paul’s day.

Paul stated in Romans 1:21, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him, as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” We all must ask ourselves, “How am I honoring God today, and what do I need to thank Him for?”

Throughout the book of Proverbs, Solomon said that if we do not honor God, we miss the whole purpose in life and are therefore fools (Prov. 1:7, 22;10:1; 12:15; 14:7; 17:25; 20:3). Solomon states the theme of Proverb’s goal is to describe and instill “wisdom” in God’s people. This wisdom is found in the “fear of the Lord (Prov. 9:10)” in practical everyday circumstances, situations, and relationships. One example is from Proverbs 29:11, “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”

There are several “no longer” ways we must live up to the calling to which we are called in Christ:

• No longer losing one’s temper and giving vent to anger – Prov.12:16, “The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.” Prov. 20:3, “It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.”
• No longer allowing sins of the past – Colossians 3:5, “Put to death therefore, what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
• No longer holding onto anxieties – 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because he cares for you.”
• No longer holding onto jealous thoughts – Proverbs 30, “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”

Living our life intentionally, as God designed us to do, with the concentrated focus on honoring Jesus in all we do, to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:23-33), is an ongoing process and daily work for the rest of one’s life. Nobody’s grass is greener. The old way has to go. The NLT version of Ephesians 4: 23 states, “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Our heart has to be changed in order for our mind to be changed and filled with the wisdom that can only come through knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Yes, the old way has to go in our thoughts and attitudes, and needs to be replaced with the truth of Christ Jesus. What we do needs to be motivated by our love for Christ. The old way has to go.

Listen to Run To The Father by Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe.

Ephesians 4:1-2, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”

Paul is now launching into the practical aspects of our life in Christ (Ephesians 4-6) by urging the church to walk in unity, purity, harmony, and finally, in victory. This is our duty and responsibility in Christ. We all have to keep in mind how patient God has been with us. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29, “. . . learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart (humble).” His love is generous, full of mercy and grace, and goodness; therefore, we are to walk in a manner that is worthy of our name – a Christian.

When one has humility, one is content and happy in not needing to be in control or steering things only our way. Do you see yourself as a person that tries to control things or people? Are you a good listener? I think it is easy to recognize lack of humility and manipulation tendencies in others rather than in ourselves. We all have those offenders that come to mind, don’t we? It has been said that when you know you have the grace of humility you have lost it. But Jesus Christ was the supreme example of what the word humility is and means. Paul admonished the believers in Philippi, in Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

True humility is knowing oneself, accepting oneself, and being yourself all to the glory of God. It requires having the right balance in walking in the manner of your calling in the work God has given you to do.

Which Christian character trait that Paul lists here is more challenging for you? Is it humility, gentleness, patience, or showing acts of love? I tend to be challenged with showing gentleness at times, and then second would be patience. I am working on this.

Not taking revenge is one aspect of what true humility means in walking in a manner worthy of our calling in Christ when inevitable wrongs occur within God’s family of united believers. We all have differences, weaknesses, and strengths, due to our upbringing and background. It is part of who we are. But we need to be patient with fellow believers in extending mercy and grace freely. I love how the MSG states the beginning of chapter 4 in Ephesians: “I want you to get out there and walk – better yet, run! – on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline – not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.”

Listen to Casting Crowns It Has To Start Right Here (Official Lyric Video) 7/24/20.