READ: Ephesians 4:17-32
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
KEY THOUGHT:
When was the last time that you had something lying around in your room or maybe all around the house, and you were told to put those things away. In other people’s eyes, leaving those things out was not appropriate. We all have things we leave out or even carry around with us that we should learn to put away and leave them alone. In today’s scripture passage, Paul shows us that if we truly have learned Jesus Christ and we know Him in a personal way, we will put away our old ways and follow after Jesus in the newness of life He gives us. If you have been taught the truth, and you have heard God’s Word, then the things you once desired—the things that satisfy your flesh—will be put away and you will seek the will of God. So—how much of your old life do you have lying around?
CONSIDER:
- What makes your life renewed, as Paul mentioned in verse 23?
- What are some of the old ways that Christian teens have difficulty putting away when they trust Christ as Savior?
- Is there anything that you know you need to put away from your life in Christ? If so, what are you going to do about it?
APPLICATION:
Check for things that might need to be “put away” from your walk with Christ…
