God's Glory Church

“Put on the new man, created according to God.” — Ephesians 4:24

Our blue spruce was dropping cones and needles. A specialist in tree diseases looked at her and explained what the problem was: “It’s just a spruce.” I was hoping for a better explanation or medicine. But the forester shrugged his shoulders and repeated: “It’s just a spruce.” By its very nature, a tree sheds its needles, and this cannot be changed.

Fortunately, our spiritual life is not limited to fixed actions or attitudes. The apostle Paul emphasized this liberating truth to the new converts in Ephesus. Gentiles were “dizzy in mind”, closed to God. They were hard-hearted, committed “all kinds of wickedness”, sought only pleasure and were greedy (Eph. 4:18-19).

However, since the believers came to know Jesus, the apostle called to “reject… the old man who fades away” (v. 22). Paul said that our old nature “melts away in seductive lusts.” Therefore, he encourages “to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, created according to God in justice and holiness of truth” (vv. 22-24).

He then listed ways to live in a new way. Don’t cheat. Do not give in to anger. Do not curse. Do not steal. “It is better for him to work and do good with his hands, so that he may give to the needy” (v. 28). Our new nature in Christ enables us to live up to our calling.

What does it mean to “put on a new man”? How to strive to follow the path of the Savior?

Dear Jesus, renew my nature. I aspire to be like You.

Author: Patricia Raybon