Ephesians 4:21-23 (NLT)
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Paul tells the Ephesians Christ taught us how we should live. They learned their sinful nature comes from their own desires. They also learned they deceive themselves into believing what they do wrong is right. Paul encourages them to let the Holy Spirit work in their lives. They were created to be like God so let that nature shine through as the old sinful life is thrown off.

A phrase that has emerged with the troubled economy is “toxic assets”. Banks make money by providing loans with secured transactions that guarantee them a return on money. When the borrower defaults; they reserve the right to take ownership of the asset in order to regain the loaned amount. However due to the recent sharp decline in home prices loans are no longer guaranteed by the principle in the home. Instead these loans have become toxic and can affect the banks profit because there is no principle to back the loan. We can also have toxic assets in our spiritual lives. We might think we have gained an asset only to find out it is hurting us spiritually. If we bring something into our life that pushes us away from God that is a toxic asset. Money, family, education, work, church all can be good things, but if they take away from our time with God or lead us astray then they have become toxic to our lives. Deuteronomy 11:16 says, “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;” Are there any gods (toxic assets) in your life that need to be put aside?