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Prepare: Thank God for the difference he has made in your life.
Life makeover
Reality TV is very popular at the moment: people are given advice on what to wear, what to eat, how to decorate their house or bring up their children. It seems we feel the need for a ‘makeover’ in many areas of life.
Getting to know Jesus is like this, Paul says. Beforehand we may have been quite happy with the way we lived but now we know that we need to change (v 17).
Radical change
It is far more radical, though, than a change of clothing or diet. Using the analogy of changing clothes (vs 22–24), Paul says that what Christians are called to put off is their old self. This radical change is from the inside out.
Who we are
The Christian life is not so much about what we do as about who we are. Paul does not appeal to the Ephesians on the basis of rules that have to be kept but reminds them that their new identity in Christ affects the whole of life. It is a makeover of the mind (v 23).
This is not just an individual lifestyle choice because sin affects the whole body of Christ (v 25) and grieves the Holy Spirit (v 30). Sin is a denial of who we truly are.
Respond: Paul tells us we have the seal of the Spirit to say we belong to God (v 30). Does our life reflect the badge we bear?
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-03-13
Life makeover
Reality TV is very popular at the moment: people are given advice on what to wear, what to eat, how to decorate their house or bring up their children. It seems we feel the need for a ‘makeover’ in many areas of life.
Getting to know Jesus is like this, Paul says. Beforehand we may have been quite happy with the way we lived but now we know that we need to change (v 17).
Radical change
It is far more radical, though, than a change of clothing or diet. Using the analogy of changing clothes (vs 22–24), Paul says that what Christians are called to put off is their old self. This radical change is from the inside out.
Who we are
The Christian life is not so much about what we do as about who we are. Paul does not appeal to the Ephesians on the basis of rules that have to be kept but reminds them that their new identity in Christ affects the whole of life. It is a makeover of the mind (v 23).
This is not just an individual lifestyle choice because sin affects the whole body of Christ (v 25) and grieves the Holy Spirit (v 30). Sin is a denial of who we truly are.
Respond: Paul tells us we have the seal of the Spirit to say we belong to God (v 30). Does our life reflect the badge we bear?
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-03-13
Scripture
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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We would like to thank Scripture Union England & Wales for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.wordlive.org/youversion
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