Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Ephesians 4:20-24 – You Were Taught – Growing As Disciples
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 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. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NIV)
Put Off, Renew, Put On
Do you want to be like me? Do you want to live the new life that I have given you to live? Do you want to live a righteous and holy life that is pleasing to me? Yes, I do want to be like you. I want to live the life that you have given me to live. I want to live a righteous and holy life that is pleasing to you. How can all that be possible? Is there something that I must do? That is a very good question. Yes, there is something that you must do.
When I called you to come to me, you left your old life to follow me. You turned away from your sins and asked me to forgive and cleanse you of all your unrighteousness. You said that you would follow me as your Savior and Lord. Is all of this true? Yes, that is all true. I have forgiven you of all your sins and cleansed you of all your unrighteous. I have given you a new life to live in me now and forever. I have been leading you through life as your Lord and Savior. You are my child. One day you will come to live forever in heaven with me. Then everything is all good. You think so? Well, maybe not. I’m not positive that I’m really living the life you have given me to live. You mentioned that there is something I must do if I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. Yes, I did. Would you like me go over what you must do if you want to live a righteous and holy life that is pleasing to me? Yes, I would.
Actually there are three things you must do if you want to live the life I have given you to live. You must first put off your old life. Your old life is like old dirty, stinky clothes. Once you have completely taken them off, don’t ever put them back on again. Make sure that you don’t let any remnants of your old life remain with you. Take a thorough inventory and get rid of whatever no longer suits you as one of my followers. Don’t ever go back and to try those smelly clothes on again. Do you understand all of this? Yes, I do. You will have temptations and battles against your old life of sin. As awful as it sounds, you will be tempted to put back on the dirty, stinky clothes of your old life. I will strengthen you in your battle against this temptation and sin. How will you do that? You will be part of what I will do in you. Here is what you must do next. You must let me change your heart and renew your mind with my word. How can I do that? You must feast on my word. You must allow my word to dwell in you richly. You must meditate on my word day and night. You must hide my word in your heart. As you do this I will be changing your heart and renewing your mind. As my word dwells in you richly you will be able to stand against temptation and sin. You will be able to leave the clothes of your old life behind. Do you believe what I am saying to you? Yes, I believe you. Why is that? I know that you already have been changing my heart and renewing my mind. Yes, that’s true. What else have I been doing in you? What else have I been teaching you? You have been teaching me how to put on the new life that you have given me to live. Yes, I have. That is what you will do next and keep on doing as I lead you through life.
Lord, thank you for making it possible for me to come to know you. You have taught me how to remove the stinky clothes of my old life. You are using your word to change my heart and renew my mind. You are helping me to put on the new life I have in you. Amen
Key Question… How have you taken a close inventory and eliminated evil influences and practices from your old life?
Living It Out… Allow God’s word to change your heart and renew your mind so that you can put on and live out your new life in Christ.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word will change your heart and renew your mind so that you can live out your new life in Christ.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word has been helping you to live out your new life in Christ.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God’s word to change your heart and renew your mind so you can live out your new life in Christ.
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Knowing God – Ephesians 4-20-24 – You Were Taught – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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