Is Your Spiritual Auto-Correct Holding You Back?
How often have you sent a text only to look back in horror and see that auto-correct changed a word or two that completely changed the whole meaning? Our well-meaning devices think they're being helpful, but so many times they don't understand what we say and default to some other word they do know. We've all had moments in our lives when we truly intended to do the right thing, but somehow our spiritual auto-correct defaulted back to our old sinful nature. Whether it's our old anger, attitudes, speech, or bad habits that continue to trip us up, the Apostle Paul has something important to say about it.
More Than a List of Rules
In Ephesians 5, the Apostle Paul reminds us to follow God's example and walk in the way of love. His message here isn't "just try harder not to mess up." Instead, it is "upgrade your whole operating system, your defaults, from your old ways to living by the Holy Spirit."
At the end of Ephesians 4 and on into chapter 5, Paul provides an extensive list of moral rules and ethical behaviors. Paul is helping the church understand their identity. And holiness plays a significant part of it. When we hear the word "holy" or "holiness," we think of moral purity or perfection, but that is not the core meaning of the word in the biblical context. The literal meaning of "holy" is to be separate, distinct, or set apart. For us to be holy is to be separate, distinct, and set apart from the non-Christian world around us and that means living and acting a certain way. It involves living by the Spirit of God.
Why Does Living by the Spirit Matter?
Why does Paul drop in this list of "dos and don'ts" here? There are three big reasons.
First, living by the Spirit brings glory to God. The church is the body of Christ, and we are called to show the world "the fullness of Jesus." As Ephesians 1:22-23 says, "God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." When we read the instructions in chapter 5, the light bulbs should be going on: this is how we bring glory to God, and this is how the world will be able to see who God is and come to follow God as well.
Second, living by the Spirit helps us bear the image of God. We are supposed to be new creatures, saved by grace, and living our lives defined by grace, reflecting the image of God out into the world. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, "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; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Third, living by the Spirit promotes unity in the church. Unity is strengthened by the types of positive behaviors Paul lists, and the negative behaviors he lists are the kinds of things that produce disunity. As Ephesians 4:2-3 reminds us, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Want a quick way to produce division in the church? Try selfishness, rudeness, impatience, anger, and conflict. These commands and prohibitions Paul gives are not just random instructions to be a good person, they are purposefully intended to produce and promote unity.
The Positives Outweigh the Negatives
Here's what makes Paul's list radically different from similar moral instructions from Greek and Roman philosophers of his time. This is not merely a list of rules and regulations. When living by the Spirit, the positives outweigh the negatives. The balance sheet is in our favor.
For each example Paul lists, he states something we shouldn't do, something we should do instead, and most importantly, the reason why. The ultimate reason is found in Ephesians 5:1-2: "Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Walk in the way of love. Why? Because Jesus himself loved us and sacrificed his own life on our behalf.
But it is too easy for us to fall back into our old default behaviors, our auto-correct, of sinful habits and attitudes. As Paul works through his list, the pattern is clear:
Ephesians 4:25 — Don't lie; speak truth. Why? "We are all members of one body."
Ephesians 4:26-27 — Don't sin in your anger; seek reconciliation before the day is done. Why? Don't give the devil a foothold in your relationships.
Ephesians 4:29 — No unwholesome talk; say what builds others up. Why? "That it may benefit those who listen."
Ephesians 4:31-32 — Get rid of bitterness, rage, and malice; be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. Why? "In Christ, God forgave you."
Ephesians 5:3-4 — No sexual immorality, impurity, greed, or coarse joking; pursue holiness and thanksgiving. Why? These are improper and out of place in God's family.
Ephesians 5:18-20 — Don't get drunk on wine; be filled with the Spirit. Why? If you're going to be "under the influence," there's no better influence to be under, one that leads to "always giving thanks to God."
Moving From Darkness to Light
Everywhere around us there are temptations that call us back to our old lives before we met Christ. Temptations in relationships, temptations for ethical behavior at work, temptations to serve our own interests instead of promoting unity in the body of Christ.
In the middle of Ephesians 5, Paul gives us a beautiful image: living by the Spirit moves us from darkness to light. Sure, we all sin. Just because we are Christians doesn't mean we are perfect. But our goal should be to not persist in a state of sinfulness. As Ephesians 5:8-13 says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord."
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar place like a hotel room or a relative's house and stumbled around in the dark, bumping into furniture, stubbing your toe? Then you turn on a light and suddenly you can see clearly where to walk.
In Genesis 1, God says, “Let there be light!” In many ways, the concept of Christian morality is God saying over and over to each one of us, "Let there be light! Let there be light!" When we live our lives in the light, the light itself will do the work as others see our lives.
And this is truly how Paul's ethical instructions in Ephesians 4 and 5 are radically different from similar commands from other teachers of his time. As Ephesians 5:14 sums it all up, "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Putting It Into Practice
So how do we upgrade our spiritual operating system and stop defaulting back to our old ways? Here are some practical next steps drawn directly from Paul's instructions:
Check your speech. Before you speak, ask: Is this true? Is this building someone up or tearing them down? Would someone be able to tell I'm a follower of Jesus by the way I talk?
Don't let anger fester. Seek forgiveness and reconciliation quickly. Don't give the enemy a foothold in your relationships.
Be filled with the Spirit. We are all going to be "under the influence" of something. Choose the influence that leads to thanksgiving, worship, and praise.
Live in the light. You don't need to go around pointing out everyone else's faults. When you live your life in the light, the light itself will do the work.
Remember the "why." All of these instructions are not random rules, they exist to bring glory to God, help us bear the image of God, and build unity in the church. Keep that ultimate purpose in front of you.
When we live by the Spirit, letting our light shine, we are able to fully receive the great reward of Christ shining his light, love, forgiveness, and grace on us. And as Paul says in Ephesians 5:20, we should be "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything." That's the upgrade we all need.
Reflection
Take a few quiet moments with these questions.
What is your spiritual "auto-correct"? What old default behaviors, attitudes, or habits do you find yourself slipping back into, even when you genuinely intend to do better?
Paul gives us a pattern throughout this passage: don't do this / do this instead / here's why. Looking at your own life right now, where do you need to make that kind of swap? What needs to come off, and what needs to go on in its place? (See Ephesians 4:22-24)
Jesus says "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). When the people closest to you, at home, at work, in your neighborhood, look at your life, what kind of light are they seeing? Is there any area where you've been navigating in the dark?
Application
Name it. Write it down. Don't be vague. "I struggle with ________."
Swap it. Based on Paul's pattern, identify what the Spirit-led alternative looks like. What does the new self actually do in that moment?
Share it. Find one trusted person, a spouse, a friend, a small group member, and tell them what you're working on. Accountability is not weakness; it's wisdom. It's how the body of Christ promotes unity and keeps each other walking in the light.
Prayer
Generous God, thank you for not leaving me the way you found me. Thank you that because of Jesus I am no longer defined by my old defaults. I am a new creation, called to walk in the way of love, set apart and filled with your Spirit. I confess that too often I slip back into old patterns. Forgive me. Change my defaults. Help me to put off what no longer belongs to who I am in you, and to put on the new self, created to reflect your righteousness and holiness. I want to live in a way that brings you glory, bears your image, and builds up the people around me. Fill me with your Spirit today. In the name of Jesus, the Light of the World. Amen
