Ephesians 4:29-32
We have all been in a situation at some time in our lives where words were used against us that cut us like a sword. In that moment, the words cut deep and came from a disrespectful spirit. They came from anger or other emotions. We are told in today’s scripture reading that we are to use words to build each other up. We find in verse 29:
“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.”
As believers we are to speak in a way that builds others up, not according to the way we need, but according to their needs. We also notice in the last part of that scripture, that it may benefit those who listen. I don’t know about you, but I find it interesting when you are in a public place and someone is talking very loud to the point you can hear the entire conversation. In that moment, I can imagine that the person talking loudly is not aware of how loud they are being and who all can hear the conversation. That being said, we don’t need to talk loud for others to hear. I have learned this through Paisley, that how and what you say can be absorbed by those not even in the conversation. I remember watching a Michigan State Basketball game when Jordan Scott hit a 3 pointer to send the game into overtime. I jumped up and started cheering very loudly. In that moment Paisley froze, looked at Sarah and I and did the same exact thing. Now in that moment I trained her to cheer for the right colors but in today’s scripture we see that others are listening as well.
As we study through the Fam Chat Sermon series, I encourage you to take time and think about who is watching, listening, and learning from you. With that being said we look to verse 32 that reminds us:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
As we close out this week, who do you need to forgive? Maybe you need to forgive yourself. No matter what, we should take time and forgive just as Christ forgave us. Negative words and disrespectful spirits often linger in our minds, and I encourage you if you have wronged someone in these ways to apologize. If someone is trying to ask for forgiveness for wronging you, forgive as Christ did.
“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.”
As believers we are to speak in a way that builds others up, not according to the way we need, but according to their needs. We also notice in the last part of that scripture, that it may benefit those who listen. I don’t know about you, but I find it interesting when you are in a public place and someone is talking very loud to the point you can hear the entire conversation. In that moment, I can imagine that the person talking loudly is not aware of how loud they are being and who all can hear the conversation. That being said, we don’t need to talk loud for others to hear. I have learned this through Paisley, that how and what you say can be absorbed by those not even in the conversation. I remember watching a Michigan State Basketball game when Jordan Scott hit a 3 pointer to send the game into overtime. I jumped up and started cheering very loudly. In that moment Paisley froze, looked at Sarah and I and did the same exact thing. Now in that moment I trained her to cheer for the right colors but in today’s scripture we see that others are listening as well.
As we study through the Fam Chat Sermon series, I encourage you to take time and think about who is watching, listening, and learning from you. With that being said we look to verse 32 that reminds us:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
As we close out this week, who do you need to forgive? Maybe you need to forgive yourself. No matter what, we should take time and forgive just as Christ forgave us. Negative words and disrespectful spirits often linger in our minds, and I encourage you if you have wronged someone in these ways to apologize. If someone is trying to ask for forgiveness for wronging you, forgive as Christ did.
Posted in Devotional