Proclamation:
“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 4:22-24 (NIV)
Explanation:
In his letter to the
believers in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul issued a call for them to be holy. Paul wrote these words under the influence of
The Holy Spirit of God. This letter
basically contained instructions for Christian living. (Ephesians 4:25-32)
Application:
As the year 2016 draws to a
close and the dawn of the New Year, 2017, approaches, many people will make “New
Year’s resolutions.” Most of these
resolutions will be forgotten before the first week of January is completed. Let us make a promise to ourselves to begin
each day with prayer and renew our commitment to The Lord as we begin each new
day. Let us renew our commitment to
Christ and renew our mind by reading and studying His word each day. Thereby we will grow a little each day in the
knowledge of God and His Holy Word. Let
us tell the truth and quit trying to make ourselves look better to the world by
lying. If and when we fall back into
sin, let us not stay down and give up.
Let us ask The Lord to forgive us, to help us up, to clean us off, and
to put us back on the right path. Let us
be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Let's not hold grudges against those who have wronged
us. Holding on to anger can make us
bitter, not better. Let it go and let
God take care of them. Let us pray daily
that we won’t give the devil the opportunity to use us to cause someone else to
sin. Let’s pray that God will use us to
help someone each day. With God’s help
we can put off our old self and put on a new self, and He will make us new in
the New Year.
