Ephesians 4:25-28

Ephesians 4:25-28 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his 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. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Paul gives the believer three direct commands: speak the truth; do not hold onto your anger; do not steal. These directives all pertain to relationships, especially within the body of Christ. Speaking truthfully is another way of saying do not be deceitful. Eventually dishonesty undermines the unity of the body of Christ. Honesty allows transparency and openness, so we can be who we are and not play roles or hide behind masks. Christians come from different backgrounds and hold varied perspectives; we need to remove our masks and be honest with each other. As we share our true identities and thoughts, we will understand that we are all unique creative beings who live for God's glory. Yes, we are all believers saved by faith; however, our different interests, insights, and abilities make us who we are. Our uniqueness should not separate us but add beauty to the body of Christ as the light of his love shines through each different person. In this political season we would do well to allow differing perspectives to exist among us without harshly judging those who disagree with us. Refusing to tolerate and to appreciate others leads to broken relationships and disunity to the body of Christ. Diversity of thinking should not destroy us but make us thankful that the Holy Spirit says, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17 KJV)

Just as acceptance leads to unity, anger divides us. When we are unremittingly angry, we give Satan a foothold in our lives. Christians should not hold grudges; bitter thoughts lead to wrath and division. Such anger and divisiveness is not of the Spirit. Devilish spirits are out to destroy us and the church: Satan has a hand in every contentious conversation and in every unresolved quarrel. The enemy wants to prevent healthy communication and to dampen loving interactions between people. Discord, bitterness, and rage lead to isolation and pain, not unity and peace. Proverbs 6 describes a wicked man who speaks forwardly, devises mischief, sows discord, and speaks lies. When our lips bear bitter fruit and we become set apart because of our angry thoughts and unforgiving hearts, we must recognize our sin, repent, and seek the cleansing power of our Lord. The Bible tells us repeatedly that the LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (Psalm 103:8 KJV)

The Spirit of God unifies: unconditional love unites, unresolved anger tears apart. Jesus became a servant to all men. We see him healing the sick, driving out demons, raising the dead, accepting the outcasts of society, and forgiving all who came to him. HE LOVED PEOPLE, and so should we. He called us to heal the brokenhearted, to care for the troubled, to pray for the sick, and to love the outsider, even those who are not like us and particularly our enemies. Like Christ, our mission is to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Paul says, don't let a spirit of anger abide within us even overnight; instead, forgive, love, and care for our adversaries. We must repent of our anger and not give the spirit of vexation another day before we make things right with our brother or sister. Unrelenting anger is the flesh out of control: it is SIN. When sin gains a foothold, it corrupts and destroys our unity in Christ.

Warning against stealing, Paul recommends hard work to provide for ourselves AND OTHERS. Performing useful work with our hands gives us something to share with those in need. Concern for others contrasts sharply with our American mindset of working to have plenty for ourselves. Selfishness and greed break down a community, isolating people from each other. Concentrating only on our needs and wants leads to a narrow, self-serving focus, even bigotry in our beliefs. As we accumulate possessions and wealth, we may think we deserve God's blessings more than others. God miraculously provided good jobs and secure lives for many of us. Do we look outward to share and to bless others or do we look for more of this or that: a bigger house, a better car, and the like? Are our lives so self-centered that we think only of ourselves? Most of us do not steal to get ahead, but we literally rob God and others by not sharing our abundance. Love is action: love looks away from self and toward the poor and the needy. Two important commandments satisfy all of God's demands on our lives: love God with all your heart, soul, and strength, and LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. You may think you fulfill the first command, but loving God wholeheartedly should lead to obedience and a desire to love and to serve others. At the close of our last day, may we say with Paul, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8)