Ephesians 4 is a letter to the believers at Ephesus. In the letter Paul contrasts the old life of pagan, dark, and sinful behavior with the new life found in Christ. He admonishes his readers to put off the old self, to be renewed in the spirit of their minds, and to put on the new self, created in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

To me the most interesting aspect of this passage is Paul tells them to actively “put off” the old man and to “put on” the new creation which clearly indicates that sanctification isn’t a passive process. In today’s passage the phrase, “be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” is sandwiched between “put off” and “put on” as if to say, “to understand how you got from the old to the new do this.”

Renewing our mind daily shifts our thinking so we can understand and believe we are a new creature. Over time, the whispers and sometimes the shouts of the old creature fade, replaced by the voice of truth and our thoughts, beliefs and behaviors more closely reflect who we are in Christ.

We are new creatures in Christ. It just takes time for us to believe it.

dailyinspiration #renewal