Real-Life Instruction for Daily Living

April 19th, 2022

We love “how to” guides don’t we? Four, or six, or ten rules for successful living, investing, careering, parenting, spousing, etc. Just give us the list and it’s all good! In each of these cases, it isn’t as simple as a “How to” list. Life is complicated. Nothing is more complicated than figuring out how God wants us to interact with one another. There is plenty of advice given in various areas of living, but right at the end of the book of Ephesians, God really cuts to the chase and gives some basic, but effective, interactional advice. This is based on Ephesians 4:24-32

Embrace Your Identity

First, know, trust, and celebrate that God has redeemed you and made you new! Own that new self and step into that identity. We all have regrets about mistakes we have made in the past, but God is most interested in the future and wants us to move forward, not backward.

Upgrade Your People Interactions

Don’t lie or mislead; be honest and speak truthfully to others. Think twice and speak once.
If we try to interact with people when we are angry, we often say or do things that we later regret. First deal with your anger so you can calmly interact with those around you.
Watch your mouth! Did anyone ever say that to you growing up? Harsh, but Biblical advice! A dear friend elaborated on this by sharing three questions to ask yourself before you say something: Is it true? Is it helpful? Does it honor God? Letting those questions guide you may eliminate a lot of things you might think but shouldn’t say!

The final topic in this list of advice ends with things to get rid of and things to embrace:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Our motivation and strength to practice this kind of life is wrapped up in those final words: just as Christ forgave you!

Posted in How to, identity, forgiven, purpose