Word@Work Eph53 - Ephesians 4:31-32
Published: Tue, 12/09/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
ALL MOUTH
Ephesians 4:31-32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (NIV)
It is not the loudness of shouting that makes verbal abuse unacceptable in the workplace, but its extraordinary capacity to disable. The old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me", is rubbish. Words are divinely designed to have a powerful effect. For example: God spoke into nothing and the universe came into being. Confession mixed with faith in Christ brings forgiveness, and words of blessing are honoured by God; likewise words of cursing are not just psychologically inconvenient - they allow evil to operate.
So the catalogue of spoken violence, in these verses, is clearly put out of order for Christians, in the church or wherever. Yet the apostle's command indicates that Christians were indulging in these habits. However common they were in their society, they had to be eliminated from the believers' mouth-style. Malicious speech needed to be replaced, not just by nice talk; a whole new attitude was needed. The mouth simply reveals what is in the heart (cf Matt 15:19). So to eliminate the hateful talk needs a revolution of the heart. And the starting point is a reminder that God has not treated you like that.
We cannot put a veneer of compassion and forgiveness over a malicious heart, at least, not with any degree of integrity. Our minds need to engage with the need to put others before ourselves, as Christ did for us. Then, practice this new attitude with others in your local church. After that, you are ready to go to work! Understanding what needs to be discarded (and why), you can start to live the transformed mouth-style which will be so appreciated wherever you work. And people will notice the positive difference. When they comment about the change, you can tell them the story: some will want to join you.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You for the changes You have already helped me to make in my life. Where my mouth does not fit with Your heart, please give me the insight and determination to make the necessary changes. For Your glory's sake. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and Spanish
It is not the loudness of shouting that makes verbal abuse unacceptable in the workplace, but its extraordinary capacity to disable. The old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me", is rubbish. Words are divinely designed to have a powerful effect. For example: God spoke into nothing and the universe came into being. Confession mixed with faith in Christ brings forgiveness, and words of blessing are honoured by God; likewise words of cursing are not just psychologically inconvenient - they allow evil to operate.
So the catalogue of spoken violence, in these verses, is clearly put out of order for Christians, in the church or wherever. Yet the apostle's command indicates that Christians were indulging in these habits. However common they were in their society, they had to be eliminated from the believers' mouth-style. Malicious speech needed to be replaced, not just by nice talk; a whole new attitude was needed. The mouth simply reveals what is in the heart (cf Matt 15:19). So to eliminate the hateful talk needs a revolution of the heart. And the starting point is a reminder that God has not treated you like that.
We cannot put a veneer of compassion and forgiveness over a malicious heart, at least, not with any degree of integrity. Our minds need to engage with the need to put others before ourselves, as Christ did for us. Then, practice this new attitude with others in your local church. After that, you are ready to go to work! Understanding what needs to be discarded (and why), you can start to live the transformed mouth-style which will be so appreciated wherever you work. And people will notice the positive difference. When they comment about the change, you can tell them the story: some will want to join you.
Prayer: Father God. Thank You for the changes You have already helped me to make in my life. Where my mouth does not fit with Your heart, please give me the insight and determination to make the necessary changes. For Your glory's sake. Amen.
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