“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.” (Ephesians 4:29-32)
These verses strike home with me because I can, at times, fall back into old speech patterns which are not at all pleasing to the Lord. I know better. I use the excuse that I am angry or upset, but that is irrelevant. I cannot allow my mood to dictate my speech. Do you have this type of problem as well? Many folks do. I can relate to Paul when he says in Romans 7 that he does that which he knows he should not do and doesn’t do that which he knows he should do. If it were not for Christ I would be lost, but my relationship with Him provides God’s grace.
We are to speak words that "benefit those who listen". We are to encourage and edify rather than criticize and tear down. We are to rid ourselves of all slander, rage and bitterness. We are unable to do this ourselves. We must tap into the infinite resources God provides us through His Holy Spirit. We are new creatures when we receive Christ and can truly begin to act like one when we allow God to perform spiritual surgery on us. God wants us to know Him is such a way that we can begin to be in one accord with Him. He wants us to know Him so completely that His desires for us become our desires as well. It takes time; frankly, years. There is no quick fix here. It takes diligence and determination. We will stumble and fall from time to time. We must understand that is part of the process. We are painfully human and our Heavenly Father knows that all too well. He can and will instruct us and lead us into a better way of living as we submit to His Lordship in our lives. Even in this we have a free will. Our spiritual growth is dependent on us. How seriously we believe the Bible and how close we desire to be with our God is solely up to us; He forces Himself on no one. Always remember and never forget how in Christ God forgave us and act toward others accordingly.
WALK WITH THE KING TODAY AND BE A BLESSING!
