Scripture
Unity in the Body
1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
5There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all.
7However, he has given each one of us a special gift[1] through the generosity of Christ. 8That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[2]
9Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.[3] 10And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
11Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Living as Children of Light
17With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”[4] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Translation notes (4)
- 4:7 Greek a grace.
- 4:8 Ps 68:18.
- 4:9 Some manuscripts read to the lower parts of the earth.
- 4:26 Ps 4:4.
26And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
With any close relationship, conflict is inevitable. We will have disagreements and frustrations. The question is, how do we respond when these conflicts come? We can hold on to our anger and frustration or deal with it and let go. Only one of these responses builds stronger relationships: dealing with our anger and letting it go. After all, when we hold on to our anger, we build resentment, and our anger grows. When we deal with it, let go, and move on, our relationships grow stronger.
When we hold on to anger, that anger slowly takes over. It consumes us with thoughts of hatred and revenge. This is not the way to live; it was not what God intended. Instead, He calls us to let go of anger. Here is what Ephesians 4 says: "And don't sin by letting anger control you. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil" (verses 26-27). This means seeking restoration and reconciliation rather than holding on to anger. We do this by having hard conversations and choosing love and forgiveness over anger.
If we want healthy, thriving relationships, we must let go of anger and choose forgiveness and restoration instead. Anger may feel good for a moment, but ultimately it destroys the relationships we care about the most. So let's be people who choose to let go of anger but are quick to forgive and move on.
Moving toward action
Is there someone you are frustrated or angry with? Stop now and pray. Pray that God will give you patience and understanding. Pray also that God would be with the person you are angry with. Take a step toward forgiveness today, whatever that looks like. Do not let the day get away from you before you let go of your anger.
Going Deeper
Ephesians 4:1-27 (NLT)
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