THAT YOU PUT OFF THE OLD MAN
Monday 06
“That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.”
Ephesians 4:22 (NKJV)
READ: Ephesians 4:17–32
Putting off the former conduct—the corrupt old man that grows through deceitful lusts—and being renewed in the mind (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23) is something that many believers find difficult to do.
Putting off the former conduct is a responsibility and a duty for every believer who wants to live a fruitful and fulfilled Christian life. In the world today, things are getting degenerated by the day. Things that should not be mentioned among believers in those
days are seen and considered the norm today (Ephesians 5:3,4).
Today, you see people who claim to be believers spend time on porn sites and into all form of indulgences. You see believers who professed to be of Christ who are not different from the people of the world. In fact, in some instances, the unbelievers are even morally better than the so-called professed believers.
All these are a result of the inability to put off the former conduct (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:5–8). The inability to deal with the old man. Remember, the old man in the passage means the flesh—your flesh, which had been trained and become corrupt through deceitful lusts. You will have to unlearn things you have learnt that indulged your flesh. If you fail to deal with your flesh, it will always be arousing you to go back into those things you had indulged in or trained it with in the past.
Your flesh can be trained to follow a particular path. You can train your flesh to either indulge in sin, or to follow the path of righteousness (Romans 6:19–22). These things are deliberately and consciously done.
For your flesh to follow the path of righteousness, you will have to be deliberate and determined about it (Galatians 6:7,8). It would be like running against the tide. A lot of challenges and opposing forces would be encountered in the process. If you will live against the tides of the current things in the world, you would have to be conversant with the Bible and make the Holy Spirit your companion. The world and forces of darkness are on rampage, and they want every average believer to yield to them (1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:17).
You have to be resolute and determined not to give in to challenges. This is about consciously building a system of life to live in, that is in line with the Bible:
• When the system is built and you are established in it, you will see that your growth in God will be evident.
• Not only that, but you will also see yourself becoming fruitful—being used to bless others, your work in God’s kingdom being used to edify others, and being seen as the reason for the steadfastness of others in Christ.
It is at this point that you will be considered a father of faith. Albeit,
the whole story starts with putting off your former conduct—dealing with the corrupt old man, your flesh (Ephesians 4:22). Are you ready to do that now? Take a step today!
Remember, it is not done overnight; it is not a dash but a marathon. It is a journey of a lifetime in the Spirit.
I have been in the Christian faith for a couple of decades; whatever is being exhibited in my life today is a product of consistency in the word of God and prayer for years. Although no one should think he has arrived (1 Corinthians 10:12), one should keep striving (Philippians 3:12–14) in order to attain the fullness of Christ’s stature as stated in Ephesians 4:13.
Apostle Paul says he did not consider himself to have apprehended but forgetting the things at the past and striving to press forward to get to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14). Wherever you are in the journey, keep pressing in order to get to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:16). Remember, the journey starts with putting off your former conduct.
You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Re f l e c t :
• Are there specific areas of your y“former conduct” that you have not yet dealt with?
• What does your daily spiritual diet look like? Are you feeding on the Word consistently and practising it?
Peace.
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