Naughty By Nature
Naughty By Nature
One Monday night, my pastor decided it would be good idea for us to read, do, and live Ephesians 4. This sounded like a fantastic idea...until I really read and applied the scripture to my life.
See, I couldn't really see myself needing to change too many things when I initially read the scripture. Especially when you get down to verse 22 and beyond. But the more I tried to live an Ephesians 4 life, the more I realized how 'naughty' I really am.
Verse 22 tells us to put away our "sinful nature." Easier said than done. This whole challenge of reading, doing, and living Ephesians 4 has opened my eyes to many ways in which I am 'Naughty by Nature.' By no means am I trying to say that God created me with this nature. According to Genesis 1:26- 27, God made us in His image, which means He intended for us to have a good and upright nature. But we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Here enters our sin nature, a voluntary nature. We choose to do what's wrong instead of what's right. Maybe because we think no one is looking or paying attention, but there is one who is always paying attention. He sees all and knows all. Yet, we continue to allow our sinful nature to get the best of us.
Let me encourage you, who continue to make that bad decision that causes you to sin. You are "Naughty By Nature." Now, this only explains why you do what you do, it does not excuse you or qualify you to continue to sin. The good news is right there in the 23rd verse of chapter 4; we can put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. I just love how God always has a way out for us.
So, I also challenge you to read, do, and live Ephesians 4. It will make you better, and it can change your life.
I also encourage those of you who are already on this ride with me to comment below and share with the rest of us how this 'challenge' has been for you!
Listen, this won't be easy. You will stumble and fall, but the Word of God will be there to catch you if you allow. My prayer is to become better in every area of my life, and I pray that same prayer over your life today.
If you are reading this and you make a decision to take the challenge, I pray that God would bless you richly for your act of obedience to His Word.
You are going to have to tell the truth, in love. Stop stealing and work for what you want. You will be patient, kind, and tenderhearted to others, you will forgive others. You won't go to bed angry, or grieve the Holy Spirit, and a whole lot of other stuff that you may not have thought about. Living Ephesians 4 is going to stretch you, but you will be better for it.
Ephesians 4 will help you trade your naughty for nice!
TC!
Ephesians 4
King James Version (KJV)
4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.