Take It Off, Put It On

[00:00:00] Foreign. [00:00:06] Hey, everybody. Pastor Chuck Allen, back with another weekday podcast on this Wednesday. And we're going to talk a little bit about Ephesians chapter four today. And the today's title is Take it off and Put it On. [00:00:18] I'm so glad you joined me. So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's chat. [00:00:23] I want you to think for a second about something I really don't like. Laundry day. [00:00:30] I mean, there's nothing about it I particularly like. You know, the sorting part, that one shirt, the shirt that you love. I mean, it's soft in all the right places. It fits like it was made for you. I mean, then there's a hole under the arm, all those things, and you feel like you're supposed to throw it in the, in a pile to go to Goodwill or something or throw it away. [00:00:51] I've got one that is so old and it's one of those Life is Good T shirts. Jenny literally won't let me wear it outside the house, but it's my favorite shirt to put on. I think all of us have that and I think a lot of us have a way of living like it as well. An old way of responding to people, an old habit of temper or bitterness or self protection worn soft and familiar from years of use. And it doesn't fit who God's making us into anymore. But we keep rescuing it out of the pile. [00:01:23] There's, there's a lot of what Ephesians chapter four is all about. [00:01:27] Paul spends this whole chapter talking about what it looks like to actually live like the people God says we already are. And he doesn't just tell us to try harder. He gives us language for it to like, take something off, put something on. I mean, listen to what Ephesians 4, 22, 24 says. Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes and put on your new nature, created to be like God, truly righteous and holy. Now, notice this. [00:02:05] It doesn't. It, it. It's one of those things that Paul throws out right after he's been talking about unity. He says there's one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all. He's building towards something before he ever gets to the how we do it. Because you can't fake unity with people while you're still wearing the old shirt underneath your clothes. [00:02:29] The old way. Paul calls it corrupted by deception. Always it's showing up. It shows up eventually, you can't hide shows up in how you talk to your spouse when you're tired. It shows up with the grudge you keep rehearsing in the shower. It shows up in the sarcastic comment you tell yourself is just honesty. But Paul doesn't leave us with a little bit of vague inspiration. He gets highly specific. By the end of the chapter, in verses 31 and 32, he says, get rid of all bittern, rage, anger, harsh words and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God, through Christ has forgiven you. [00:03:17] That's the whole chapter in one breath. Take it off. Get rid of bitterness, rage, harsh word that you've been saving up for the right moment to use like a weapon. [00:03:26] And instead put on kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. And here's the part that changes the whole deal. He doesn't say be kind because it's polite. He says be kind because that's exactly what God did for you and Jesus. Every time that we forgive someone who doesn't deserve it, we're not being naive. We're being more like God the Father. [00:03:49] I know some of us today are carrying an old shirt that you've worn so long, like my old life is good shirt, and you've forgotten it's not who you are anymore. Maybe it's resentment towards somebody in your family. Maybe it's defensive edge you bring into a conversation because somebody hurt you once and you'd swore you'd never be caught off guard again. [00:04:10] Paul's not shaming you, y'. All. [00:04:13] He's just saying you don't have to keep wearing that old self. The spirit renews your thoughts and your attitudes, which. That's not willpower. That's a real ongoing work that God does in you when you keep showing up and letting him do his thing. [00:04:29] So here's something for the day. Think of one relationship right now where you're still dressed in that old life is good T shirt, where bitterness or a sharp tongue is your default setting. And today, practice taking it off in that one place and use one kind word instead of the jab. You wanted to take one choice to let something go instead of keeping score. [00:04:57] You're not who you used to be. So let's stop dressing like it and get rid of that old shirt. [00:05:03] All right, folks, that's all for today. Take it off, put on the new, and I'll see you back here tomorrow and we'll chat a little bit more on another weekday podcast. Thanks for joining me. Bye now. Out.