Skip to main content

Ephesians 4:25

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
(NIV)
Remember, this passage is talking about True Change. When does a liar stop being a liar? When does an alcoholic stop being an alcoholic. When does the adulterer stop being an adulterer? These are the questions that need to be answered. Modern psychology will tell an alcoholic that he will always be an alcoholic. They tell him it is a disease that he has, but with the true changing of the Spirit of God, you can be made free from the laws of sin and death.

Here is the first example of the Put Off, Be Renewed, Put On, method of change. In this example we are dealing with a liar. You are to put off falsehood and you are to put on speaking the truth. Notice that the middle step is left out. I believe that the reason for this is because it is an assumption at this point. That middle step can only be accomplished if you are a true child of God. If you are, then the Spirit of God is at work within you, constantly renewing your mind.

But the passage does give a helpful little thought to establish that renewed mind. It tells us a reason why we shouldn't lie. We are members of one body. Now, we could get into all sorts of discussion about exactly what this means and is referring to. Think though, it would be damaging to the body if the brain told the knee to keep moving when the knee was feeling pain. If the brain said, "you'll be OK, keep going." There could be trouble. Or what if the knee said that it was OK when it really wasn't, the damage for the knee could be made worse or the knee could end up damaging the whole body if it were to give out in a bad circumstance. The point is that one part of the body lying to another part of the body just shouldn't happen.

When does the liar stop being a liar? Is it when he stops telling lies? No. It is when he becomes a speaker of the truth.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

  1. Anonymous7/25/2007 9:59 AM

    Thanks again Mr Harmless, you've unpacked the Word care & insight.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Matt Harmless7/25/2007 9:01 PM

    Thank you anonymous, I am glad that you have enjoyed this.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please add some additional commentary to this verse. Your input is greatly appreciated.

Popular posts from this blog

Ephesians 4:31

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (NIV) This verse might be best served with some definitions. Bitterness - Just what it says, bitterness. It is a bitter root that produces a bitter fruit. Rage - Usually translated as Wrath. It has to do with a passionate anger. This is the person who is fuming. They are bubbling over with anger. Anger - This word has also been translated as wrath. It is most definitely referring to the actions associated with anger. It doesn't have to mean this, but their can also be the association with violence. This is the person who is acting out on their anger, in a sinful way. Brawling - Ok, I just learned something new, this word has to do with making an outcry, or a crying. After I read the definitions, what immediately jumped into my mind was the person who yells when they are angry. He may not do something violent, but he is letting everyone know exactly how angry he is. He is a ye...
2 comments
Continue Reading »

Psalm 136:4

to him who alone does great wonders, His love endures forever. (NIV) If this verse said, "to him who does great wonders..." it would still be a great verse. We could talk about all of the wonders that God does. Everything from the rings of Saturn and the Sombrero Galaxy to the forming of a child inside its mothers womb or even how electrons are spinning around the atoms and not flying off. We could talk about all of those things and marvel at His wonders. But get this, all of the great wonders are His! He doesn't just get credit for great wonders, He gets credit for all of them, because the verse says, "to him who alone does great wonders..." God has no counterpart. He has no arch-rival. There is none like Him, and He is the only one who is doing the wonderful stuff! He is the changer of hearts and lives. He is the redeemer. He is the savior. He is the God who hears and the God who sees. And the most wonderful of all, His love endures Forever!
3 comments
Continue Reading »

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (NIV) I know that this verse is a great comfort to many people. This world is full of heartache, pain, and sorrow, so when we see a verse that tells us that our mourning will be comforted, it is a great promise to cling on to. But the real question to ask is, "what are you mourning for?" There are many people who are mourning about the wrong things. They are weeping and wailing because they can't get what they want. This is a lesson that I am always trying to teach my boys. When things don't go their way, they will start to cry about it. I immediately say, "is this something to cry about?" If they aren't for sure how to answer the question, I will begin giving them some examples of things that are worthy of tears. What are you mourning for?
Post a Comment
Continue Reading »