Be angry without sinning.
Don't let the sun set on your anger.
Don't provide an opportunity for the devil. Thieves should no longer steal.
Instead, they should go to work, using their hands to do good so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need.
Ephesians 4:26-28 CEB
Here's the next tranche of putting off the old and putting on the new...
Paul doesn't day there's anything wrong with anger, but there can be in what we do in response to this emotion.
This may look different for you and me. "Sin" from anger could be breaking things, using words to belittle or get my way...it appears in a myriad of ways.
It takes work, and it takes the honesty from v25 to figure out what our anger is about, and what our response is about. Paul encourages us to do that work, not to let it fester.
And he asks us to turn our skills and talents from stealing to work.
But note it's the reason why that carries the weight;
"so that they will have something to share with whoever is in need"
This is more than a change of action, it's a change of heart.
Changing our actions is good, but changing our "why" is the key.
Putting off the old and putting on the new really only makes sense when it starts with a renewed heart. That's not once-and-done, but a life, a lifetime of (knowing that you are loved,) being loved, & choosing to love.
#itsaheartthing
#youareBeloved
#love God
#lovepeople
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