Get on track: Take Satan’s toys off the table.
27 and give no opportunity to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27–ESV)
The NIV uses the word foothold in its translation. There is no question that passion changes self-control. If you consider doing evil like falling off of a cliff anger moves you closer to the edge. Insider of us are enough imbalancing forces as it is. The devil and his crew will use those to your disadvantage.
The devil does not make you do anything, but if you mull over the things that made you angry it is not hard for him to give you a nudge. He always nudges you in a “wronger” direction. An angry person is a lot easier to throw. In martial arts, they teach one to employ your opponent’s imbalances for your own ends. Satan does not need anyone to teach him that. He is its father, the dojo or your drop.
Anger gets you in an imbalanced frame of mind. When this happens immediately pray about them. Pray things like, “Dear God, please lift my mind from these thoughts and place them in better places.” Or, “Dear God, please forgive me for this anger and cleanse me from it.” Maybe even coupling these two prayers can be useful. Avert thoughts; avert gaze; pray. Let us reconfigure James’ verse (James 1:15) as follows: when anger has conceived it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown gives birth to death.
Get on track: Don’t steal
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (Ephesians 4:28–ESV)
The thief as Christian? There is an odd one. Proper Christian thinking is thinking God’s way, right? God says, “Come as you are.” We clearly teach that in our churches. What do we often couple to this statement? “You are not supposed to go clean up your life and then come to God. Come to him and let him clean up your life.”
So, if we suggest that there should be no thieves in the church we run close to the second statement: clean up and then come back. To whom is the gospel offered? Everyone including thieves. Are we uncomfortable having thieves in our midst? We should be in some sense, but in another, we need to offer to them the grace of God. We must be innocent as doves but wise as serpents. Know that a thief will not immediately forget the thieving tendencies upon accepting Christ as their savior.
Neither Paul nor I am suggesting theft as suitable option. It must be discarded, but be careful to properly consider the backgrounds other people come to Christ with. New ways take time. Paul says, “Stop stealing and set about gainful employment. Live honestly.”
Look at the second half of this verse and see the constructive process Paul recommends. Stop taking, earn, and then start giving. By doing this the thief will taste a different experience. Jesus did not idly say, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Was he right when he said that? This principle works in the realm of taking as well. For the thief who has been saved Jesus’ words could be phrased, “It is more blessed to give than to take.” They may or may not grasp this intuitively, but if they get on this track they will have the experience of it. Experience is a great teacher.
Old ways are not necessarily gone for good. Be careful not to discard an individual who periodically slips into things you are uncomfortable with. Pray for them, restore them gently. Hold a firm line, but do it lovingly.
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