How Now Are You? — Andrew Forrest

Okay, I’ll admit it: I had another title typed out—”Stop Living in the Past!”—but when I searched for an image to go with it, I found the one I’m using above. I kinda like it.

Today’s Reading: Ephesians 4:25-32

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Paul’s point in the earlier parts of the letter is that those who believe in Jesus have put on the new humanity and taken off the old humanity. The ethical exhortations in today’s passage are about reminding the Ephesian Christians that they need to live in the now and put aside the old. To Paul it’s all about identity, and because the Ephesian Christians’ identity is now in Christ, there is no need to live in the old ways anymore. To Paul, identity is first, and behavior comes out of that.