Gifts -- In Gratitude

A Future for God's People
Turn to Me and Be Saved

Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (The Message)
 ²⁵What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
 ^26-27Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
 ²⁸Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.
 ²⁹Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
 ³⁰Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.
 ^31-32Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
 ^1-2Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

For Reflection
Not a sacrifice, but, rather, transformation is the gift God offers us.  We in return give ourselves to Him in gratitude and praise.  Not a sacrifice.  Rather, a joy.

Pray
prayers of thanksgiving for the Holy Spirit that guides, comforts and propels you into the Kingdom of God.  Pray that you will learn to love as God loves.