Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
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“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.” (29)
Apostle
Paul reminds us that becoming a Christian means putting off the old way of life
and putting on a new way, following Jesus’ ethical teachings and examples.
He entreats us to speak truthfully, avoid anger, theft, and evil talk.
My focus for today’s mediation is verse 29. Well, Paul couldn’t
have instructed us in any simpler words, could He? Evil talk
means poisoned, hurtful words that can tear a person down. We
are not to say harmful things about others.
How
often do we complain about others? We gripe about things others do that
irritate us. We don’t speak in words that help heal and empower those
people become stronger and better. We only grumble. We may protest and say that
we don’t put others down, and we don’t speak badly of them – at least in
public. But what about at home? Do we talk to our spouses at
home about our feelings? Do you speak while our children are within earshot?
Do we express frustrations about other family members? We all do. We all
have people in our lives who rub us the wrong way: people who let us down;
people who disappoint and frustrate us; and people who probably do need to make
some changes in their hearts or lives. But how are we helping them by simply
complaining? We each have a choice. We can keep our thoughts to ourselves
and take them to the Lord in prayer, or we can take action and do something to
help those who are the subject of our irritation.
Each
one of us have a God given ability and potential power within us through
our words to change the hearts of others about whom we grumble. Our words
can be to their soul what vitamins can be to their body. We can do or say
something that will motivate them and encourage them to become stronger. We
want others to respect us enough to listen to us. But it starts in our own
hearts and in my own homes. We have to assure ourselves that we can make
a difference. We can use our words to be cute. We can use our words to
appear impressive. We can use our words to win arguments. May your words be of
blessing to someone today?
Prayer: God, sensitize
me to your truths and values. I want to be truthful, loving, kind, and
merciful when I open my mouth and speak. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Thought
for the day:
Our words are like a fire; it can hurt or it can light.
Dr. Thomas Ninan, Mar Thoma Church of Greater Washington