Fix Up Time

Hello and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. The devotional for today is titled fix up time that it was written by Dave Brandon. It was time to get the inside of our home. A fresh new look but just as I began prepping a room for painting our state government announced it would be halting the sale of many home improvement items due to the covert, 19 pandemic as soon as I heard the announcement. I rush to the store and purchased the essential materials. You simply can't remodel without the proper supplies. Paul had a bit of a remodeling project in mind when he wrote Ephesians 4, but the changes he was talking about went far beyond superficial alterations, even though trusting Jesus as Savior makes us a new creation.

There still some ongoing work, the spirit needs to do and it takes time and work for him to accomplish true righteousness and holiness. The presence of the spirit makes needed changes on the inside that can help us reflect Jesus in our words and actions. He helps us replace lying with speaking truthfully. He guides us to avoid sin in regard to anger and he directs us to speak words that are helpful for building others up these spirit controlled actions are part of the internal change that's manifested in things like kindness, compassion and forgiveness. The spirit works in us to enable us to imitate Jesus himself and reflect the heart of our heavenly father. Today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from the apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians chapter 4 verses 20 through 32. That however is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ 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.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body in your anger do not sin.

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must deal no longer, but must work doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Now let's go to the Father in prayer, loving Lord, thank you for making us new creations in Christ, would you help our thoughts and words and actions and attitudes through your Spirit's guidance to reflect the change that you're making in us.

Thank you, Lord. It's in Jesus name that we pray. Amen on today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries