1. “GROW UP INTO HIM IN ALL THINGS” (by Charles Spurgeon)

(Eph 4:15; Ps 1)

Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed in spiritual things, presenting the same appearance year after year. They exist but do not “grow up into him in all things.”

But should we rest content with being in the “green blade,” when we might advance to “the ear,” and eventually ripen into the “full corn in the ear”? Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, “I am safe,” without wishing to know in our own experience more of the fullness which is to be found in Him? It should never be so.

We should, as good traders in heaven’s market, covet to be enriched in the knowledge of Jesus. It is all very well to keep other men’s vineyards, but we must not neglect our own spiritual growth and ripening.

Why should it always be winter time in our hearts? We must have our seed time, it is true, but O for a spring time — yea, a summer season, which shall give promise of an early harvest. If we would ripen in grace, we must live near to Jesus — in His presence — ripened by the sunshine of His smiles. We must hold sweet communion with Him. We must leave the distant view of His face and come near, as John did, and pillow our head on His breast, then shall we find ourselves advancing in holiness, in love, in faith, in hope — yea, in every precious gift.

As the sun rises first on mountain-tops and gilds them with its light, and presents one of the most charming sights to the eye of the traveller, so it is one of the most delightful contemplations in the world to mark the glow of the Spirit’s light on the head of some saint. As the saint is filled with the Spirit, he begins to mature in his faith.

THOUGHT: How is my faith growing?

PRAYER: Lord, may I not neglect my spiritual growth.

2. “ PUT OFF ... PUT ON”
(Eph 4:17-24; 2 Cor 5:11-19)

Paul uses the figure of dress to convey the immediate and complete change that should take place in a believer’s life after conversion. The“old man” is the old sinful Adamic nature within us. The “former conversation” is the old manner of life which is polluted, putrid and put to death in Christ. Those pre-conversion days were characterised by lustful desires that were self-centred, not God-centred. Lusts are deceitful: they promise carnal pleasure and profit but do not fulfil. Isn’t that what we experienced before we became Christians? We did what we like, but in the end, we did not like what we did.

We are to “put off … the old man” (Eph 4:22) by a decisive act of our will, like taking off one’s dress. How bad was the old way of life?

Eph 4:17: The unregenerate mind dwelt on nothing of value, that which brought no good result. How sad! Vanity of the mind!

Eph 4:18: The understanding was darkened and we were cut off from the life of God through ignorance and the hardening of our hearts.

Eph 4:19: “Being past feeling” speaks of being insensitive, ceasing to feel, reflecting the deadness in the conscience. “Given themselves over” is to abandon themselves to lasciviousness, lust, licentiousness. “Greediness” is covetousness, the desire for more and more.

A true Christian can no longer live to the hilt in unbridled passion and sin. Such behaviour is foreign to the believer because “ye have not so learned Christ” (Eph 4:20). We must continuously be rejuvenated in the spirit of the mind. Change of action is preceded by change of mind. The Christian must then “put on,” as the wearing of new garments, the new man (Eph 4:24), which is created by an act of God through the new birth, and characterised by “righteousness (quality of being right) and true holiness.”

QUESTION: Am I still wearing the old clothes of sin?

PRAYER: Forgive me, Father, for my continued sins. Help me to “put on the new man” always.

3. FROM OLD TO NEW
(Eph 4:25-32; Col 3:1-17)

New life begins the moment we are born again “of water and of the Spirit” (John 3:5). With God’s Spirit working in us, that newness will soon change us. Prayerfully consider what has changed in your life.

THE OLD (to put off)

A. Attitudes

— walk in vanity of mind

— given unto lasciviousness

B. Words

— lying

— corrupt communication,

vulgar speech, foul language,

putrid, rotten, defiling words, profanity, cursing and swearing.

C. Actions

— stole

D. Reactions

— bitterness (resentful,

refusing to be reconciled)

— wrath (anger)

— clamour (self-assertion,

wanting to be heard)

— evil-speaking

— malice (viciousness, active

ill-will, bad feelings)

THE NEW (to put on)

A. Attitudes
— created in righteousness
and true holiness

B. Words
— speak the truth
— speak what is “good” (pleasing to God),
“edifying” (for spiritual growth), “minister grace” to the hearers

C. Actions
— steal no more but give

D. Reactions

— be kind (gracious)
— tender-hearted
(compassionate, full of pity)
— forgiving one another
(bestowing a favour without
condition as God for Christ’s
sake forgave you)

“Be ye angry, and sin not” (Eph 4:26). Make sure your anger is of the righteous kind, to put right what has been wrong, and not due to personal irritation. Do not keep anger overnight, or Satan the slanderer will have occasion to occupy our thoughts with evil.

THOUGHT: No one is guiltless before God.

PRAYER: Father, as Thou forgave me, let me forgive others.

God bless you, dear readers.