May the mumbling commence!
Open our minds, Lord, to Your Way of living. Your Way of living means leaving some things behind and picking up other things. Let’s finish out chapter four of Ephesians as we continue this discovery toward Christian maturity (TNIV):
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Those who have been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Verses 25-32)
In living, I learn more from the positive statements. Speak truthfully to your neighbor. Work at doing something useful so that you may share with those in need. Speak words that are helpful to build others up according to their needs so that other people may benefit by listening to what I say. And I should dutifully listen to what my Christian brothers and sisters bring to me to build me up.
This kind of speaking and listening will make kindness and compassion essential to every Christian. This kind of speaking and listening will create a need for forgiveness. Sometimes we will need to forgive. Sometimes we will need to receive forgiveness. It is the model that Christ has put our before us. Doing these things will please the Holy Spirit of God.
We have thought about the positive, but there are negatives to leave behind. Put off falsehood. Let go of anger in healthful ways. Steal no longer. Purge from your tongue unwholesome talk. Unwholesome talk bubbles out of a heart filled with bitterness and rage and anger and brawling and slander and malice. To cling to these things grieves the Holy Spirit of God.
Help us to mature, O Holy Spirit. Help us to fashion our hearts and minds so that the goodness of God shines through us. Then our tongues and our actions will follow suit.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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