Sunday, February 1, 2009

Using our speech to build up others


I have been going through Ephesians 4 in my morning devotions lately and I have found this section of scripture very encouraging so I thought I would share it with you. I am bolding the sections that are really jumping out to me right now.
Ephesians 4:25-32
"Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each on of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need.
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."
What jumped out at me on the first section I bolded (vs 28) is that the reason we want to labor is not just to take care of our own needs but so we will have enough to share with those who are in need. Giving is something that has really been on my heart lately and I want to work harder so that I will be able to share with those in need more.
The second section (vs 29) really goes along with my goal for the year to speak gently with my kids and not harshly, cuttingly or with my voice raised. I really started thinking about ways I can build them up with how I talk. I, with the Holy Spirits help, have really been working on this and it has really made a good difference in our home.
The other things I bolded also fit in very well with how I deal with my kids and just everybody.
What jumps out at you from this section of verses?

1 comment:

Martha said...

That is a really beautiful picture! thank you also for sharing those verses.

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