Tag: Ephesians 4:28

The Anchored Soul – Day 29 – From Taking to Giving: The Mark of a Changed Heart

On By KateIn Devotionals, The Anchored SoulLeave a comment

Ephesians 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Colossians 3:8-10  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  (9)  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;  (10)  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

John 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

It’s easy to think of repentance as merely feeling sorry for our mistakes or asking for forgiveness. But Scripture shows us that true repentance goes much deeper. The Greek word often used for repentance, metanoia, means a complete transformation of mind and heart. It results in a 180-degree turn in direction.

Notice how Paul paints this picture in Ephesians 4:28:

  1. Stop the old habit: “Let him that stole steal no more…”
  2. Start the new pattern: “…but rather let him labour, working with his hands…”
  3. Fulfill the new purpose: “…that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

Repentance isn’t just dropping a bad behavior; it is replacing a self-centered pattern with a Christ-centered one. The thief who used to take from others to serve himself becomes a generous giver who works to serve others. That is the power of being a new creature in Christ.

Do We See This Today?

In a world that often measures success by what we acquire, genuine repentance stands out like a beacon. Today, it’s easy to reduce faith to a simple intellectual agreement: believing about Jesus without letting Him transform our lives.

While salvation comes through faith in Christ alone, saving faith never stands still. When the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts, our old desires gradually pass away, and new ones take their place, revealing Christ’s nature within us. True repentance isn’t a one-time event we check off a list; it is a daily, humble posture that produces righteous results.

When we yield to Christ each day, turning away from our selfish inclinations and stepping toward His holiness, we honor Him. We show a watching world that Jesus isn’t just a fire insurance policy for the future, but a living Saviour who changes who we are right now.

Reflection & Prayer

Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for making me a new creation. Help me to walk in that truth today. Forgive me where I have fallen short, and grant me the grace to repent daily—turning away from my selfish ways and turning toward Your love, so that my life may honor You and bless those in need. Amen.

Reflect: Is there an area in your life where God is asking you not just to stop an old habit, but to actively replace it with something good and generous?

Peace Through Troubled Times – False Accusers

On By KateIn Devotionals, Peace Through Troubled TimesLeave a comment

2Ti 3:1-3  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Have we ever seen so many false accusations than what has occurred in the past decade? Supreme Court Justices have been falsely accused of infidelity. A U.S. President has been accused of insurrection. The devil is working hard to prepare for his reign in the seven-year Tribulation.

False accusers are all around us. You may be the one who has lied about someone else and gotten them into trouble. Nothing is thought of lying anymore. Unless one is caught in that lie, there’s no remorse. Is it any wonder that it’s bearing false witness is one of the Ten Commandments? It’s probably one of the easiest sins to commit! But nonetheless, it is a commandment and one lie will keep you from eternal life in Heaven with Jesus Christ!

Friend, we are living in fearful and exciting times. These feelings are polar opposites, aren’t they? To those who have not trusted in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they are experiencing fear. But to us who are authentically born again, we have no need of fear. I realize the following verse was spoken by God to Israel, but we sure can glean God’s character from it:

Isa 43:1  But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah of mankind, to take on our punishment onto Himself because of His compassion and love! Friend, God has redeemed us unto Himself. He has called us by name and we are His! Do you feel lonely? Do you feel empty and void? Do you feel useless? The God I serve took the punishment for your sins (Romans 3:23). He wants to be your Saviour as well. But you must acknowledge that you are a sinner (Romans 3:10) in need of saving! You cannot work for your salvation as many popular religions claim. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Repentance is required. Repentance is a genuine sorrow for your sin and requires a changed heart toward that sin. One can say I’m sorry but yet do the same offense over and over. That is not genuine repentance. (Ephesians 4:28) Once genuine repentance has occurred, it stands to reason that you will follow Christ as He is the One responsible for your salvation! A desire to serve Him and do as His Word commands will follow repentance.

If you are not truly born-again, you won’t see today’s topic as a sin. But there is coming a time when it will be too late for you to repent and be saved. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab You Can Be Born Again and Know It!