Walk In Love

Falsehood

(NRSV)

(NRSV)

Rules for the New Life

25 So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.

(NRSV)

22 One given to anger stirs up strife,

and the hothead causes much transgression.

Does this scripture confuse you? It is a little misleading perhaps. Perhaps it requires that we meditate on the word and not jump to assumptions.

I will offer this, being angry often times causes action, the problem is that our actions, in anger often reflect anger rather than love. (NRSV)

26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

We have all heard this, right? “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” In other words put anger aside and use the power of it to change things. My wife and I have had times in our lives that we went to bed angry, well one of us went to bed,:) (NRSV)

27 and do not make room for the devil. Opportunity, is always the event of the evil one seeking to divide. You know how it works one of us does something , usually in our speaking falsely or even in truth hurtfully. This causes division and separation. It causes us to draw lines and join groups, make sides. These sides are always set up by right and wrong, but what the Lord tells us is use the anger to bring change. Don’t let the anger control you but out of love take action.

(NRSV)

28 Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. So ask yourself, who is the thief? Should we not be productive? Perhaps the thief is simply those who would rather produce grief and steal the joy of those who strive for change. So how do we do this? (NRSV)

29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. Then we move to the next problem-grieving the Holy Spirit. (NRSV)

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. You and I were marked for redemption, so ask yourself, what would Jesus do? Is he not your redeemer? Have you forgotten that He called you out of this corruption and sin to a better life? So how do we live out this better life? By living according to His commandments.

(NRSV)

31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

(NRSV)

5 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, (NRSV)

2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.