Edification Requires Thinking Before Speaking

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

Ephesians 4:29

When I was a little child, I can recall how often my father would instruct me to think before I speak… Even though I never really paid his instructions any mind, today I have come to know and understand exactly what he meant… Words are powerful; the things we speak can sow seeds of abundance or failure in one’s life; this is why James writes in the 3rd chapter of his book about the importance of taming our tongue… In this chapter, he says, “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell...”

Your tongue can transform lives or tear them down, your tongue has the ability to reap corruption or alter the atmosphere; because of the power that lies in its use, we are reminded today that we must not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouth… When I read this passage, there are two points that jump out to me: either you think before you speak, or you need to just learn to shut up… “What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.” People will always talk about you, they will always say things that you may not agree with or may be hurt by, but the ultimate sign of a true Christian is not your response in words to the accusations, but how you flip this trial so that God receives glory and honor. Isaiah 53:7 says,” He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” Bottom line, think before you speak, and if that doesn’t work, just shut up…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Purification Works From The Inside Out

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

1 Peter 1:22

Notice that this passage says that you have purified your souls through obeying the truth by the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit residing within you, you cannot accomplish anything. We have to be led by the Spirit; we have to have the Holy Spirit abiding within us. Remember, Christ spoke to the disciples before His departure and said that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes; through the Spirit, we can overcome and be victorious on this earth. It is also through the Spirit that we can love unconditionally; we can help our enemies and be kind to those who show no kindness towards us. This passage emphasizes the fact that I should be able to tell your spiritual makeup by the way you fervently love one another. To be fervent means that you are passionate, eager, zealous about something; I should be able to see all those traits in your lifestyle as a Christian. Remember, greater man have no love than this, then that he lay down his life for his friends!!!!!! That is Jesus showing his fervent love for us! This is the same love we are to show and will show through the aid and presence of the Holy Spirit… The bible declares that everything is possible through Christ… This has a new meaning for us today as we walk in love; we can love our biggest adversary through Christ, we can smile in times of frustration and adversity through Christ, and we can turn the other cheek even in the most daunting of all challenges through Christ… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

If You Desire God's Will; Study God's Word

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 

There is no exaltation in the kingdom of God without being diligent in the word and will of God… Today we are reminded that DAILY we must study the word of God; we must continue to grow and mature in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… This passage reminds us simply that talk is cheap. Many claim to be Christian but we are to study to show ourselves approved. We must be immersed in God’s word; this is not to be confused with going to church, or attending Sunday School, but rather that we open the bible to start the day, we meditate on God’s word, and consume what He has given us (Ezekiel, before going before the people was told to “eat the scroll”). When you get to that point where you are about God’s word and studying, then you can be a workman who is not ashamed. This means that you are confident in your faith, knowing that the scriptures are true. You are confident in approaching any situation or even other religious beliefs because you can stand against the enemy… Not being ashamed means that you know the truth and you are not ashamed of what people may say and/or try to do… Let’s not get it twisted, we must understand that weeping may endure for a night; however, we are not ashamed because we believe that God is the creator and sustainer and have the assured certainty that joy will come in the morning (whenever God deems fit)…When you believe that, you can walk boldly on this earth, you can be about God’s work, and know that the devil is a liar! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!