Jose Antonio lived on the streets of Palma, Spain, as a homeless man for years. With gray, straggly hair and beard, Jose looked older than his 57 years. One day, Salva Garcia, the owner of a hair salon, approached Jose and proposed a complete makeover.
With Jose in the salon chair, a hardworking team cut, dyed, and styled the tangled bundles of hair and beard. Next, Jose then got new stylish clothes. Then came the reveal! As Jose sat in front of a mirror, tears came. “Is this me? I’m so different; no one is going to recognize me!” Later he would add, “It wasn’t just a change of looks. It changed my life.”
In Ephesians 4:17–32, Paul argues that believers have experienced a complete transformation. They have taken off their old selves and have
embraced their new identity. Somewhat like Jose’s change, though, this is no mere external transformation. It includes being “renewed in
the spirit of your minds” (Ephesians 4:23, ESV), bringing into the life “true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24, ESV). This is the ultimate makeover.
Thought question: How does Paul’s counsel about Christian speech (Ephesians 4:25–32) apply in the age of “computer-mediated communication,” which is too often used for cyberbullying and anonymous, online character assassination?
Christ-shaped lives and Spirit-inspired speech (Qtr 3 - Week 8: 19 August) Part1
Christ-shaped lives and Spirit-inspired speech (Qtr 3 - Week 8: 19 August) Part2
Audio recordings are available 5-10 minutes after the show has aired.