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Greetings!
Years ago at one of our annual Royal Family Kids Camps, a new counselor, Oscar, was overheard in a cabin instructing a young foster boy. I was upstairs and heard the patient counselor's plea,
"Put it away. I said put it way. Put it away ... Put it away ... Put is away ...I said put it way."
Just as I was about to descend the stairs I heard another voice, this one not as patient, it was from another foster boy probably 6 years old and he stated, in a rough street-smart voice,
"He said Put It Away Man, can't you listen!"
Upon hearing this I laughed and ran back up the stairs and the story became "counselor legend". I share the story as an introduction to today's devotion - Put it Away!
God, our Heavenly Father, is much like the patient counselor in the story above. He doesn't always ask His people to do specific things but He does ask us to live a certain way. God desires His children to live lives of holiness, purity and peace. As such, He provides instruction on just how we are to accomplish His goal. One of the things He instructs us to do is to "Put it away!" |
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20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, " Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. 26 "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
~ Ephesians 4:20-32 ~ |
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Going from "old" to "new"
Our passage for today is full of instruction on how to put something away. In social services we call this type of instruction behavior modification through replacement behavior. In Ephesians, Paul is instructing followers of Jesus to "put away" the old manner of living and replace the "old" behavior with new. Thus, we put away the negative and replace it with the positive.
There are two people that exist within you, the "old" man and the "new" man. It is true that you are a new creation in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). But, you need to activate the "new" man by resting in God's grace and acting on His Word. You are not a new creation if you simple said a few words at conversion and live in your same fleshly heart. You are a new creation when you "put away" the old man and walk in newness of life through God's abiding spirit (Romans 6:4).
To leave the "old" and walk in the "new" you must put away conduct and desires that don't glorify God. Ephesians 4 gives a partial list but daily reading of your Bible will provide you with a principle based lifestyle and guidance for action, speech and thought. If you want to "put it away" you need to know what to put away.
To begin your replacement behavior strategy, simply analyze what isn't working. Secondly, think about a replacement behavior that does work. Ephesians 4:31- 32 is a helpful example;
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
From Ephesians 4:31 we note that being bitter, angry, fighting, and wrath are problem behaviors that need to be "put away". The replacement behaviors will include being kind, tenderhearted, forgiving and exemplifying the character of Jesus Christ.
I am thankful that we have a great Heavenly Father that gently and patiently asks us to "Put it Away". And, I am thankful for Christian brothers and sisters that come alongside in life's journey and remind me, "Man, can't you hear what God said - He said Put it Away!"
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For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin |
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