A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

 A NEW WAY OF LIVING  

Ephesians 4:31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” 

St. Paul, in his various letters, writes about behavioral expectations of women and men who become Christians. In Ephesians 4:22-24 he wrote, “ You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”   

The Holy Spirit works in the heart of a Christian through the power of Baptism to get rid of the old sinful nature with which all human beings are conceived and born. Through this power not only is your old sinful nature overcome but the Holy Spirit works in your heart a new nature, a new way of living. As a result of the power of your baptism the Holy Spirit is working in you a Christian life. 2 Corinthians 5:15 describes your new life with these words: “And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” 

It is by God’s action in you that your old sinful way of thinking and doing is overcome. You are no longer led by the evil that is in this world but by the Spirit of God who enables you to say “Jesus is Lord.” (1 Corinthians 12:3) Your old sinful, evil nature is overcome by the power of the Gospel whereby the Holy Spirit through the Means of Grace is daily at work in you to “enlighten you with His gifts, sanctify (make you holy), and keep you holy. 

Today’s devotional verse has a litany of behaviors that are no longer appropriate for you as God’s child. They are listed in a progression of seriousness starting with “bitterness” (resentment believing you have been treated wrongly) and ending with the most serious “malice” (ill-will leading to the desire to do harm.) 

Jesus took all these sins upon Himself to the cross. There He suffered and died in payment for them. God, your heavenly Father, has accepted His shed blood as full payment for them and declared you holy, innocent, and righteous. “In Christ” you have been re-created into a new person always ready and able through the power of the Holy Spirit to do that which is pleasing to the Lord. In Christ you have overcome sin, Satan, and the world.   

Prayer: Connected to You, Jesus, I am a new person recreated to live a new life. Send Your Spirit into my heart to empower me to live my life in accord with Your will. In Your holy name. Amen. 

Jesus, Thy boundless love to me
No thought can reach, no tongue declare;
Unite my thankful heart to Thee,
And reign without a rival there!
Thine wholly, Thine alone I am;
Be Thou alone my constant flame.  

O grant that nothing in my soul
May dwell, but Thy pure love alone;
Oh, may Thy love possess me whole,
My joy, my treasure, and my crown!
All coldness from my heart remove;
My ev’ry act, word, thought be love. 

This love unwearied I pursue
And dauntlessly to Thee aspire.
Oh, may Thy love my hope renew,
Burn in my soul like heav’nly fire!
And day and night, be all my care
To guard this sacred treasure there. 

In suff’ring be Thy love my peace,
In weakness be Thy love my pow’r;
And when the storms of life shall cease,
O Jesus, in that final hour,
Be Thou my rod and staff and guide,
And draw me safely to Thy side!  (LSB 683)