June 18, 2026 | Be Connected
Put on the New Self
Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24(NIV)
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Devotional
Recently, during the volatile financial changes, I lost sleep worrying about the economic stability. I kept running numbers in my head, concerned about money, retirement, and how to provide for my family. What started as responsible planning slowly turned into anxiousness. I began to see that my trust had shifted from God’s provision to my own efforts to control things. One Sunday morning, the sermon was about trusting God, and that truth became clear. Even though I had accepted Christ, I was still clinging to old habits of self-reliance rather than fully trusting His care.
Paul speaks directly to this in Ephesians 4:17–24. He reminds us that following Christ produces a life that looks different. Faith is not merely a belief; it is a life choice. As children of light, we are called to leave behind our former ways of self-reliance, pride, and autonomy and walk in the new life Christ gives. This transformation is not instant. Though we receive a new nature, our thinking and attitudes must be continually renewed as the Holy Spirit works within us. Life apart from Christ is marked by futile thinking, a tendency to reason our way away from God. The gospel may seem foolish to those who cling to independence, but we are called to live as quiet testimonies of God’s grace.
Call to Action: surrender yourself fully to the Lord. Place your future and your fears in His hands. Live with a peace that stands out, so that others may see Christ through you.
