Renewing the Mind / Rejecting the False

Ephesians Study

Chapter 4

Ephesians 4:23-25 -- Renewing the Mind /  Rejecting the False

Amplified Bible:

Verse 23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],

Verse 24 And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

Verse 25 Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another. [Zech. 8:16.]

There are so many things that sound true but are not.  Paul is giving us the pathway in this scriptures:  Mind, new nature (identity), rejecting that which is false.  Science has proven this very concept…as a man thinks, so is he.  Romans 12:2 says:  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

If I had but one day to share something vital with you, it would be this.  And, we never know if this will be our last day or not.  That is sobering when you think about it.

In the community that we are in, I have seen an older couple on their walks.  He pushes her part of the way in a wheel chair.  She walks part of the way pushing the wheel chair.  You can tell that this is more than exercise; this is recovery.  I see them every morning going up the sidewalk with its slight incline.  I say a prayer for them.  I do not get the impression that they speak English as I spoke to them one day, and it was obvious that they did not know how to respond.  It reminds me of our recovery walk with Jesus…sometimes we walk, sometimes He pushes us until we can walk again.  Instead of a wheel chair, I think He just carries us. 

Paul is giving us this pathway of being made new which leads to living honestly from this place of healing and oneness.  Some of us do not know how to receive the help of the Lord in our recovery process.  Often, our sense of responsibility pushes us to do or to be without help.  Sometimes, we see receiving help as weakness.  The Lord and anyone else can only push the wheel chair for us if we allow.  

This renewing of the mind that Paul speaks of means that the lies are being released and the truth of personal identity in God as well as the truth about God are becoming flesh in us.  When it boils down to it, this truth is simple: Jesus loves me!  Knowing and feeling this love changes us.  We love because He first loved us.  Be that child again who knows how to freely give and receive as the moment demands.  In His presence, be that child who is free to love, forgive, and play.  After the tears of a hurt, the trusting child returns to play.  Beautiful and full of lessons for us.  

Victimization and its protective heart walls have left many of us in need of the spiritual wheel chair.  We need to see and know the truth that He is always there, and that He will push the chair until healing happens.  Are we learning Christ in truth that we may share with each other in the body? Paul keeps calling us to return to the truth in Christ.