Ephesians 4 - First Nations Version

A HUMBLE PATH

¹ Because I walk the road with our Honored Chief, I have been made a prisoner. I now call on you to join me in representing him in a good way as you follow the path he has chosen for you.

² Walk with a humble and gentle spirit, patiently showing love and respect to each other.

³ Let his Spirit weave you together in peace as you dance in step with one another in the great circle of life.

⁴ In this circle we are joined together in one body, by one Spirit, chosen to follow one purpose.

⁵ There is only one Honored Chief, one common faith, and one purification ceremony.

⁶ There is one Great Spirit and Father of us all, who is above all, and who works in and through all.

THE HEADDRESS OF THE CHOSEN ONE

⁷ His great kindness has gifted each of us from the headdress of the Chosen One.

⁸ That is why it is said, “When he was lifted up on high, he captured many warriors, took their spoils of war, and gave them back to the people.”

⁹ What does “he was lifted up” mean? It could only mean that he had to first come down, into the lowest parts of the earth,

¹⁰ so he could be lifted up, to the highest place, and be the one who would restore all things.

WALKING IN HARMONY

¹¹ He gifted us with message bearers, prophets, tellers of the good story, and wisdomkeepers, who watch over us like a shepherd watches over his sheep.

¹² These gifts were given to prepare Creator’s holy people for the work of helping others and to make the body of the Chosen One strong

¹³ until we all follow the good road in harmony with each other because we know and understand who Creator’s Son is. We will then be like the Chosen One—mature human beings, living and walking in his ways, and fully reflecting who he is.

¹⁴ No longer will we be like children who are tossed about by the waves and follow every voice they hear in the wind. We will no longer listen to the ones who behave like tricksters with their forked tongues.

¹⁵ Instead, as true human beings, we will walk out this truth on the path of love. When we become fully grown, we will be like the Chosen One, joined together with him in the same way a body is connected to its head.

¹⁶ Every joint in this body is needed to hold it together and help it grow. When all the parts work together the way they should, then the body grows strong in the love of the Great Spirit.

REPRESENTING OUR HONORED CHIEF

¹⁷ I say this to you as one who represents our Honored Chief. You must no longer walk the dark path of the Nations who have chosen their own ways.

¹⁸ Their minds have no good thoughts, because the darkness has taken away their ability to see and think clearly. Their hearts have become as hard as stone and can no longer beat with the life that comes from the Great Spirit.

¹⁹ This takes them down the path of greed and selfish pleasure, leading to an impure life.

²⁰ This is not the path you learned from the Chosen One,

²¹ for the true path to walk is only found in Creator Sets Free (Jesus).

²² Take off that worn-out and stained outfit of your past life with its selfish desires and worthless ways of thinking. It no longer represents who you are.

²³ You are now true human beings, with a new way of seeing and thinking.

²⁴ Put on the regalia of your new life. For you have been made new, created again to look like the one who made you, standing in a good way and walking a true and sacred path.

LIVING IN HARMONY

²⁵ We are all members of one body—one tribe—so we must speak truth and be honest with each other, leaving the path of falsehood far behind.

²⁶ There are times when anger is the right thing, but do not let your anger turn into rage, for it will burn like a wildfire. Work things out before the sun sets that day,

²⁷ or the evil one may use it to burn up all the good things in your life. There is no room for thieves on this sacred path.

²⁸ The ones among you who have stolen and taken what is not theirs must learn to do good, working hard with their hands. In this way they will not only have enough for themselves but also something to help others.

DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

²⁹ Keep a close watch over the words you speak, for our mouths can be full of worthless and empty talk that will bring death to others. Let your words be full of wisdom and goodwill that will give strength and bring healing to the ones who hear you.

³⁰ In this way, Creator’s Holy Spirit will not be grieved. For it is he who marks you as his own and keeps you safe for the day when all things will be complete.

³¹ Let Creator pull the bitter roots from your heart, for they feed the rage and anger that takes you down a path of fighting, hurting, and speaking evil of your fellow human beings.

³² Instead, show goodwill and kindness to others, by releasing them from the things they have done wrong. For this is what the Great Spirit, through the Chosen One, has done for you.