Changing our Character - Ephesians 4

The Ephesian letter several times discusses the difference between the old life before one is a Christian and the new life as a disciple of Jesus. Notice particularly 4:17-24. Paul writes that we are to NO LONGER walk as before, rather we are to ‘put off’ and ‘put on’ a new ‘self’. 

Over the years of preaching, I have watched as people seem to get fixated on the ‘doing’ and ‘deeds’. Paul, in fact, provides a rather handy list of things in vs. 25 - 32. These efforts at doing often end up with multiple failures as people find themselves doing the very things on the ‘don’t do’ list. This is not to say that the ‘doing’ is not important, for it is in fact essential. Rather, I am thinking about how such is accomplished.

It appears that the ‘secret’ of accomplishing the putting off and putting on is centered not in the doing but the thinking. Such involves changing from the ‘inside out’. In verse 23 Paul writes that we are to be ‘renewed in the spirit of your minds’. The old adage that we do what we love keeps proving itself true. If we then change how we think and what we love, the doing will pretty much take care of itself. 

This sounds simple but requires a great deal of intentional effort that is focused in a different area of our lives. James wrote that we are tempted by our strong desires (lusts). I can change the whole playground of temptation if I change what I desire. But, this isn’t just a matter of declaring this to be so, I must desire it from the heart. 

Jesus said that “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” Change the heart, change the whole of life! Thus Jesus would pronounce that the greatest commandment is to love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37).

To learn to love God with all my heart I need to fill my mind with the story of God. I need to know who He is (that is, His very character and being). I need to know what He has done, what he likes and dislikes, what He has promised to do. The more I learn to think like God the more I will act in a godly way. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16). 

Seeing that most of us are rather social creatures, we need to surround ourselves with godly people. Those people that share the same outlook on life will be able to teach, support, and encourage me in accomplishing this change. 

With God’s word in my heart and godly people in my life, I am being transformed into the image of God.  

Hugh DeLong

Consider:
Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (ESV)
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 
9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
 
Deuteronomy 11:18–20 (ESV)
18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 
19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 
20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,
 
Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
 
Proverbs 22:18 (ESV)
18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.