“But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, ridding yourselves of falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, because we are parts of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. The one who steals must no longer steal; but rather he must labor, producing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need. Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:20-32 New American Standard Bible)
Have you ever put your hand in your pocket to reach for your phone, your precious pen, or a piece of paper on which you wrote down what you were to pick up at the store, or was it possibly other item that was precious to you, but you could not find it? Do you remember how your frustration level went from mental despair to physical display, by means of your anxious look? Do you recall how you did not feel like yourself? You just were not your best for a moment? You searched here and you searched there. Sounds like an elementary school poem, but you searched everywhere. Your tension level was off the scale. You just could not function right, and that’s no tale! Other priorities were put off. Do you get the picture? I know you can relate to it as you think about your own experiences.
This morning, I have a few questions for you, based on the scriptures above. I want you to do some soul searching if you have ever asked yourself, relating to the question, “Where Did I Put it?” Are you ready? Here we go! Oh, first, all of these may not be applicable to you, but read them all for reinforcement. Now, here we go!
- Where did you put your new self?
- Where is your speaking truth character?
- Where is your ability to handle anger correctly?
- Where did you put your tendency to labor and produce that which is good?
- Where is your skill of not letting unwholesome words come out of your mouth?
- Where is your sharing with those in need?
- Where is your readiness to produce a word of edification just at the right moment?
- Where is your kindness?
- Where is your compassion?
- Where is your forgiving spirit, that spirit that comes forth because you know Christ has forgiven you?
This was not a exceptional exam or a tricky test, based on what I think. No! It is based on the truth in the word of God. Therefore, I think each of us should examine ourselves and ask ourselves, “Where Did I Put It?” Have a wonderful Wednesday as a warrior of faith! Share this mediation with others. Be blessed!
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3: 12-17 English Standard Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King