Ephesians: Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
There is much truth in Paul's letter to the Ephesians. Couldn't we all use a little building up instead of knocking down? It's not just from others, people knock themselves down often? I've heard many people say to themselves, "That was a terrible shot; how could I be so stupid; come on, you can do better than that." You get the picture.
"...so that your words give grace to those who hear." Sometimes people speak so quickly that it's hard to keep up. Sometimes, I do the same. How many of us actually listen to the words that come out of our mouths?
As mentioned in a previous post, today is the forty-eighth anniversary of my best friend's death. Since we were both nine at the time, we certainly never paid much attention to what came out of our mouths. At least I didn't. Eleanor may have because she literally was an angel, and nothing hurtful or evil ever left her lips.
I, on the other hand, said hurtful things, evil things, things I'm not proud of by any means. Not only that, but I put them out of my memory for years until a similar situation happened with my daughter and my daughter's friend and her friend's younger sister. It was a catalyst in bringing the long-forgotten memory to light, and to me finally apologizing for the cruel things I said. Words.
After apologizing, the words that came back to me were pure grace. No matter how someone may have hurt us or said cruel things to us, grace is the only true response to an apology.
Today, I will try to pay more attention to what comes out of my mouth. Thank you in advance, Lord for letting my words bring grace to those who hear.
April 29
Mark: But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Luke: They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.
John: “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?”
Acts: And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,
Galatians: But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.
Ephesians: Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
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