But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:20-32

Think back to Jesus’ first encounters as He called His disciples. They were ordinary men. Fishermen and tax collectors. But when they followed, everything changed.

Even a casual reading of the Gospels will reveal a group of men who were being transformed as Jesus built into their lives. They were certainly not perfect and they had not reached the pinnacle of spirituality, but they were growing.

We were not called to simply decide for Christ. Jesus’ Great Commission didn’t call us to say a sinner’s prayer, or walk an aisle, or sign a card. No, we are called to be disciples who are in the game of life.

Disciples follow. Disciples imitate. Disciples are changed from the inside out as we “put off” our old selves and are “renewed in the spirit of our minds” as we “put on the new self”.

According to the passage above, a disciple puts away “falsehood” and speaks truth.

We don’t allow anger to control us so that bitterness is avoided.

We don’t steal, but we do honest work.

We put off conversations that purpose only to tear down and instead speak words of encouragement and teaching to build others up in their faith.

We put off bitterness and slander and put on kindness and forgiveness.

Are we doing all things perfectly? Don’t be discouraged. Think back to the disciples. Jesus was patient with their progress. He didn’t give up on them and they continued to follow Him.

The real question is am I growing in honesty? Am I satisfied with my rationalized anger? Here’s one that hurts – am I speaking truth in love?

Today is a new day to follow, so how will I follow Him more closely on this day? Will I put off the television and put on time in God’s word? Will I make spiritual growth a priority today? Not tomorrow next week or even later today – how will I respond to His call to discipleship at this moment?