Some questions to ask of Ephesians 4:22-24 (and context) - preferably with a friend, preferably with some personal struggles in mind:
22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
What are the desires of your old self? List them in as much detail as possible.
How are they deceiving? What do they promise? Why is that attractive? How is it a lie?
How are they corrupting? How are they affecting you? Describe their ugliness to the Lord and others.
Spend some time feeling the power of these desires, lies and corruptions. Realize that you cannot redeem yourself.
Now consider - what has happened to this old self? (cf Rom 6:6)
Meditate on this: Christ loves and redeems not your new self but your old self - in all its lusts, lies and ugliness.
Meditate too on the oldness of this former self - crucified with Christ.
Describe the new self.
Are you the one to 'create' this new self? Where does it come from?
How is the Lord making you new in the attitude of your minds?
How is this new thinking different to your old thinking (v17-19)
In what ways can you meditate on this new 'truth in Jesus' (v21)?
Come up with opposing statements to counter the desires and promises of the old self.
.
Good advice!
I also like to (need to) eat of the body and blood of Jesus.
He wants so much to be a part of our lives, and for us to have that blessed assurance of which you speak, that He actually crams Himself down our throats.
Yes indeed oldadam, or should I call you Steve - 'the oldadam' is of course your unmarried name (so to speak).
Yes I cannot doubt that Christ is for me when He's actually handed over to me to be ingested and to give life.
Just out of interest... Our bishop here has advised us for the time being to administer the bread only at communion due to swine flu. (Though it is only advice). How bad would an epidemic have to be before Lutherans stopped passing the cup? Are we talking black death?
Glen,
The way things are going in 'Lutheranism' they might stop passing the cup if Joe Blow down the street was offended by it...let alone the black death. :D
Thanks, Glen!
Shocking! I'm glad we Anglicans are so sound...
I've spent a lot of time lately considering this passage and the putting off of my "old self".
On the one hand, I am frustrated to regularly be faced with all the ways I fall short of God's glory. And on the other hand, I am so thankful that God will show me what I am really like and that seeing it has a humbling effect rather than causing me to want to justify my sin.
I truly do want to live a life that is appropriately honoring to Christ and allows His power to transform who I am.
Hey Heather,
Welcome to the blog.
Yes, when it comes to examining the old self I often have the image of digging up mines in a minefield - but they're defused. They can't kill me but boy are they ugly and they sure do thwart my fruitfulness.
If examining them is a cause of humility and thankfulness (rather than fleshly resolve) then we're handling it in a gospel way.