Ephesians 4:17-24

Overview:
Paul demands (insists) that the believers don't act like they did before they were saved. An unbeliever (Gentile) doesn't understand spiritual things, their thinking was messed up. Their life was separate from God because their hearts were hardened to spiritual things. Because they lost their spiritual sensitivity, they threw in the towel and  gave up. Their lives were characterized by: lust, indulgence and greed.
Paul reminds the Ephesians that that was not their spiritual history - they didn't grow up that way. You were taught to put off the old self which is sinful and corrupt, and put on the new. You must change/renew your thinking so you can put on the new self which is created to be like God. You are now to be characterized by righteousness and holiness.
Application:
We (I) get so caught up in my liberties, but Paul says stop acting like an unbeliever - stop acting like you did before you came to Christ. I totally agree that when you try to see how close you can imitate the world, but still be a Christian (once saved always saved) - you lose your spiritual sensitivity. Your focus has changed. Instead of imitating Christ, we are imitating the world - trying to walk a balance between both worlds. It can't be done!! We are to put off the old and put on the new. It's like taking a bath and smelling all fresh and clean, and then going to the hamper and putting on your smelly old underwear and clothes. We wouldn't dream of doing that, but that's what we try to do in our spiritual lives. We are clean because of Christ's payment on our behalf, but instead of desiring to stay clean and pure, we dig in the stinky hamper of the world and put on what it has to offer.
"God help me to take off and keep off the old man and only choose to wear clean clothes that have been washed by You!"

Ephesians 4:8-16

Overview:
When Jesus came to earth, He gave spiritual gifts to men to fulfill His purposes of giving each believer what he needs and to also use those gifts for the church. He wanted us to be mature so we aren't tossed about with every new doctrine or smooth schemes that come along. We need to be mature enough to be able to stand up  to what is wrong - to speak the truth in love. We are to be like a body, all the parts are needed, all the parts have a special purpose and function. We are all to function in a mature loving way.
Application:
God has given me many gifts. Some of those gifts can be used in the workplace, but their primary purpose is for use withing the body - the church. When I don't use my gifts within the body, something is missing and therefore the body does not function to its full capacity. It's not because I am "all that " - it's because He gave them to me to used for the purpose of complimenting other people's gifts with my own. We are a team. Each member is needed and fulfills a special function that isn't complete until we are all using our gifts the way He designed.

Ephesians 4:1-7

Overview:
Paul urges them to walk in a way that is worthy of their calling. Their walk should exemplify: humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another lovingly, while maintaining Christian unity. Believers should do that because we are all parts of the same body with one Spirit working in all of us. We have only one God, one faith, one baptism, one Master who rules over all of us. God has given each one of us the grace we will need according to His plan - He gave us the amount of grace we would need.
Application:
Am I living the Christian life in a manner that is "worthy of my calling?" I need only to see what a worthy walk looks like to answer that question. When people think about me, do words like: humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance and a peacemaker come to mind? I would have to say "no." I am perhaps better than I was before, but those things are the softer side of me that often don't show as much as the pushy, angry, anxious, grudge-holding me is seen. I can't fault my personality. If I did, it would be like saying God made a mistake - it's His fault - He made me this way. No, according to verse 7, He has given us just the amount of grace we need to carry out a worthy walk. Could it be that I am trying to live the Christian life apart from the Holy Spirit's power? If so, I am doomed to failure. God has designed it so that I can't do it apart from Him.
"May Christ be seen in me, and not me be seen in me!"

Ephesians 3:14-21

Personal Note:
Routine...routine...routine! My routine has changed and therefore my QT is all out of whack, and therefore the steady constant strength I derive from it is diminished. Time to make a new routine. I have a sweet Jewish friend who has committed that her feet will not touch the ground until she says her prayers each morning. That would be a good example to follow. I'm home now, back to my brown chair by the window - perhaps I can get back into a new and improved routine. Where's that cup of coffee?!....
Overview:
Paul prays for the believers in this way: (1) that ... He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that (2) Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, (3) being rooted and grounded in love, (4) may have strength tocomprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (5) and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you (6) may be filled with all the fullness of God. He then concludes with a wonderful benediction: Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,  to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Application:
This was sooo good just the way it was, that I couldn't condense it and do it justice. These are all things that God wants to do in my life (and yours). I need wisdom that is rooted in love. Without being rooted in love, that wisdom, strength and knowledge don't have the gentleness and compassion they should have. In my fleshly spirit I would use wisdom, strength and knowledge to beat up myself or those around me in anger - being rooted in love smooths that out, softens my responses. I love the part about the breadth and length and height and depth - I get this mental picture of a cube where every bit of space is completely filled with all six of the above items. I need to be running on spiritual "full" - instead of partial or even almost filled. Ahh..routine...my routine must keep me on full!