Live like Jesus Is Your Boss
1Now listen, I’m in prison for doing the Lord’s work. I want you to remember that God picked you, and I’m begging you to live the life of someone who deserves that honor. 2And I want you to do it in a spirit of humility, with gentleness and patience. Work out your differences in a loving way.3Do everything you can to stay united, not just in behavior, but in spirit as well. Agree to keep the peace. 4There is one body of believers, led by one Spirit. You’ve been invited to embrace the one hope. That’s your calling. 5There’s one leader, one faith, one baptism. 6There’s one God. He’s the Father of everyone. He’s supreme. He’s above us. He lives in us. He works through us. 7Each one of us has a gift. The Messiah kindly gave it to us. 8The Bible said he would do that.
“When he ascended high above
he captured the captives [1]
and he gave gifts to the people.” [2]
13It’s a work in progress. It’ll continue until we’re all people of faith who know the Son of God and who have grown so spiritually mature that people can see Christ in us. 14At that point, we’re no longer spiritual babies that people pick up, toss in the air, and toy with. We’re not going to get tricked by some new teaching or a fast-talker or a lying schemer.
15No sir. When we talk, we’ll tell the truth and we’ll say it with love. We want to grow spiritually in every way, in an effort to be like Christ who is the head that rules the body. 16We are the body, the church. With Christ at the head and with all parts of the body working together and every supporting ligament doing its job, we can grow strong and loving.
Let’s See the New You
17I’m going to tell you something, and it comes from the Lord. Don’t live like an atheist or any other nonbeliever. They are hopelessly stuck trying to figure things out with their tiny little minds.18The lights are out inside their heads. They’re clueless. They know nothing of God because they’re morally ignorant. And they’re ignorant because they’re stumbling around in the dark, and they’re too stubborn to admit it. 19They’re not ashamed of anything anymore. They’ll dive into any nastiness, sexual sin, or greediness with no regrets. 20The Messiah didn’t teach you to live like that. 21I’m sure you’ve heard about Jesus. You know his teachings, and you know the truth about his teachings when you hear it.
22As for the old you—the way you used to be—peel it off and pitch it aside. That’s what you’ve been taught. The old you is already rotting away. It was a decaying life anyhow, built on the delusion that you could let your sinful desires run wild.
23Let the Spirit make you new. It’ll change the way you think. 24Step into your new life. It looks a lot like God himself: morally good, spiritually devoted to others, [3] and kindly truthful.
25So don’t lie to each other. Tell the truth. [4] We’re all on the same team here, members of one body. 26If you get angry, don’t do something you know is wrong. And don’t let your anger fester overnight. Deal with it the day it happens. 27Don’t give the devil a way into your life. 28Anyone who steals should stop it. Instead, work hard for what you get. Let your hands do something good for a change. Maybe then you’ll have what you need along with something to share with the poor.
29Don’t let rotten words come out of your mouth. Specialize in words that encourage people. Speak those helpful words whenever the opportunity arises. 30Don’t do anything that you know would sadden God’s Holy Spirit. This Spirit in you is God’s way of assuring you that you belong to him and are among the saved. 31Clean house in your spiritual life. Sweep out bitterness, anger, rage, arguing, gossip, and all desire to get even or to give someone what for.
32Instead, be kind to each other. Be warmhearted. And, people, forgive each other just as God, through Christ, forgave you.
