Tag: Ephesians 4:29-32

Our Resolution? Leaving Last Year’s Bitterness far Behind! Imitation – is the sincerest form of modeling faith. Ephesians 4:29-5:2

Ephesians 4:29-5:2 Amplified Bible

29 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. 30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin]. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. 32 Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave [a]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; 2 and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Bitterness is a deeply rooted issue, difficult to eradicate completely especially when injustice, hurt, suffering, and other forms of pain are involved.

If it remains and is never uprooted, it has the ability to grip us so tightly that it will squeeze the life out of us, preventing us from experiencing the goodness of God and the joy available to us.

It’s definitely a life-killer, destroying us from within, if we don’t rid ourselves of it, which, of course, we can’t do on our own because we need God’s strength to overcome it.

Because we aren’t strong enough on our own, Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

Forgiveness Frees Us from Bitterness

The Apostle Paul explains in Acts 8:23 when bitterness invades our lives, it places us in the clutches of sin: “For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Even with all our culture’s trendy self-help programs, improvement courses, and counseling opportunities, it’s impossible to rid ourselves of bitterness without forgiveness, we need to forgive those we hold bitterness towards.

It involves our forgiving others, often those who aren’t sorry, think they have nothing to be sorry for, and believe they don’t have anything to be forgiven for.  

Proverbs 14:10 describes how personal bitterness is in each person, with no one else truly knowing what we’re holding in our hearts: “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.”

Like Mary Poppins’ song says, “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” we need God’s sweet forgiveness to wash away the bitterness from our hearts.

Even though our fallen human nature clings to bitterness as alligators cling to their pray, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have all been given the ability to let the bite forces of bitterness go and resist the sin of holding onto it.

As Romans 6:14 reassures us, “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

Okay, self! It’s Time to “Let It Go!”

The New Year is a time for us to strain, to further stretch our faith to new limits, ultimately surrender, let go of all bitterness and resist the need to carry it over to another year. Hebrews 12:15 warns us, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Because God calls us to let go of all bitterness, we need to obey. Just as Paul urges us in Ephesians 4:31, it’s time for us to agree with God as we all sing the Frozen song, “Let It Go.” 

Sadly, many of us struggle too hard with letting go of bitterness towards others, resisting the tug of forgiveness of self and other’s in our hearts, while also not praying, studying the WORD of God, knowing how or where to begin, wrongly believing there is far too much bitterness built up inside us to be freed from it. 

However, we still need to face the issue of bitterness head-on as Christians, because God unconditionally loves, forgives us; we really have no legitimate excuse or justification for holding any measure of bitterness against anyone. 

Jesus urges in Mark 11:25, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Luke 23:33-35 Amplified Bible

The Crucifixion

33 When they came to the place called [a]The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 [b]And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” They cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves. 35 Now the people stood by, watching; but even the rulers ridiculed and sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others [from death]; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God, His Chosen One.”

Jesus didn’t just preach it, He lived it by forgiving the people who crucified Him.

Dying, upon the cross, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up His clothes by casting lots” (Luke 23:34).

Letting Go of the Past

Philippians 3:12-14 The Message

Focused on the Goal

12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

It’s easy to get trapped in the past, isn’t it?

We hold on to things we wish we could undo, replaying those moments in our minds again and again.

It’s as if we are carrying a heavy bag full of regret, guilt, or past mistakes—constantly reminding ourselves of our shortcomings.

I know I’ve struggled with that—especially when I have wished I could turn back time and do things differently. 

But here Paul reminds us that the past is behind us, and that dwelling on it doesn’t help us to grow.

In fact, that can hold us back from the new things God wants to do in our lives.

There’s a freedom in forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, just as Paul describes in this passage. 

God is continually calling us to press on— to pursue the goal he has for us.

This doesn’t mean forgetting the lessons of the past, but it does mean no longer letting the past define our future.

There’s a prize ahead, and it’s waiting for all of us who are ready to leave our old life behind. 

Be it Resolved: In God’s name above all names. let us press on towards the newness God has for us, not letting our past mistakes or regrets hold us back.

In the Name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Praying ….

Psalm 86:1-13 New American Standard Bible

Pleading and Trust.

A Prayer of David.

86 Incline Your ear, Lord, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy.
2 Protect my [a]soul, for I am godly;
You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.
3 Be gracious to me, Lord,
For I call upon You all day long.
4 Make the soul of Your servant joyful,
For to You, Lord, I lift up my soul.
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.
6 Listen, Lord, to my prayer;
And give Your attention to the sound of my pleading!
7 On the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.
8 There is no one like You among the gods, Lord,
Nor are there any works like Yours.
9 All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, Lord,
And they will glorify Your name.
10 For You are great, and You do [b]wondrous deeds;
You alone are God.

11 Teach me Your way, Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
12 I will give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forever.
13 For Your graciousness toward me is great,
And You have saved my soul from the [c]depths of [d]Sheol.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Communicating More Like Christ. Building Up the Kingdom of God. Ephesians 4:29-32

Ephesians 4:29-32 Easy-to-Read Version

29 When you talk, don’t say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you. 30 And don’t make the Holy Spirit sad. God gave you his Spirit as proof that you belong to him and that he will keep you safe until the day he makes you free. 31 Never be bitter, angry, or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. 32 Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

Building Others Up

While I was growing up, one of the things we were taught was to always tell the truth.

Of course!

But one important ingredient in telling the truth was sometimes left out.

We were not always told that we should speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

As a result I’ve sometimes told the truth without any regard for how it might hurt the other person.

According to the apostle Paul, we are to say only “what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.”

Before we speak, we need to ask ourselves:

“Should I say what I am about to say? And is it the right time to say it? Will I be speaking the truth in love, and will it build the other person up?”

If we learn to speak the truth in love and say only what builds others up, our relationships at home, at school, on the job, and everywhere else will go better.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you use the gift of speech to build up others.

Communicating More Like Christ

Communicate with people long enough, and two things become apparent: no one changes their mind on a topic after being insulted, and not everyone can or wants to be killed with a constant barrage of kindness – it sounds disingenuous.

If you search online, you can find a ton of videos of so-and-so ‘owning’ so-and-so in a debate – it is more important for some reason to be greater than.

Has anyone ever left one of those “I am better because debates” feeling even the least bit changed or more likely wondering why they wasted their time, efforts?

In our own personal lives, great expanse of social media, we do not have to look hard for examples of people striving to be inoffensive in everything they do.

Yet, at some point, they cause offense.

Because there will always be someone who will automatically take that offense.

Both of these approaches are severely flawed.

If you want evidence, then look around.

We all know that something has gone terribly awry in our society.

How fast We have forgotten how to talk to strangers, how to find depth in our conversations, how to give, take criticism, and learn how to agree to disagree.

The list goes on and on.

We pride ourselves as good communicators without actually understanding what good communication entails.

And though we all see the ever growing, ever expansive array of issues present in our culture, we don’t “erroneously blame ourselves”, just all the opposition. 

We are all too quick to blame other Christians, non-Christians. The Democrats. The Republicans. Men. Women. the Older generations. the Younger generations.

Philippians 2:1-3 Easy-to-Read Version

Be United and Care for Each Other

2 Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. If you enjoy these blessings, 2 then do what will make my joy complete: Agree with each other, and show your love for each other. Be united in your goals and in the way you think. 3 In whatever you do, don’t let selfishness or pride be your guide. Be humble, and honor others more than yourselves.

Is it .001% possible, could some measure of responsibility rest with all of us?

Are My Words Too Harsh or Too Kind?

In my own life, I’ve experienced first-hand how people refuse to take criticism.

In my life and I am reasonably sure in your life and experience, we have had more than our fair share of people who refuse to acknowledge even .01% truth.

One man told me she was working on not talking so much about himself.

Naturally, I called him on it, to his immediate gratitude.

Two weeks later, after consulting numerous other people, he came back saying nothing was wrong with his communication and that I was a nagging egotist.

Likewise, everyone is striving not to offend in any way.

One elderly Christian woman told me that she makes every effort to call people by their preferred pronouns because she steadfastly believes they “feel better.”

Other Christians I know make jokes that are so tame and innocuous, yet still meet their words with rampant apologies, just “in case” there’s “any offense.” 

Never in my life can I recall, have I heard someone consider themselves a bad communicator, not unless they suffered something traumatic like a betrayal.

In those situations, they are forced to confront reality.

For the rest of us, we strive ever harder, to be ever smarter, more politically correct, to keep up with the veneer for as long as we can, sometimes forever.

I’ve had to ask myself, am I a Christian whose words are too harsh or too kind?

That’s a righteous question every believer should be asking themselves today.

Someone has to be the impetus for change.

Besides, if we are to effectively model ourselves after Christ, we should do so not just in the way we pray or the way we trust, but in the way we communicate.

Ways to Communicate More Like Christ

Here are some ways we can do better to communicate more like Christ.

1. Avoid Being Too Harsh

Saying things just to rile people up is self-defeating.

Not only is the recipient’s mind and heart not changed, but you potentially ruin the relationship in the process.

Even if you’re not intending to be harsh, be mindful of your words.

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and predict how they will respond to what you’re about to say.

Sometimes being offensive is necessary, other times, not so much.

2. Avoid Being Too Nice

Saying things just to get people to like you is self-defeating.

In fact, people-pleasing is a sin (Galatians 1:10).

10 Now do you think I am trying to make people accept me? No, God is the one I am trying to please. Am I trying to please people? If I wanted to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. [Easy to Read Version]

Rather than actually appreciating you, they’ll only appreciate what you offer.

The moment the offering stops so does their appreciation.

Furthermore, you enable bad behavior when you only go along to get along.

Apathy and Complacency results for them and for you.

3. Engage with People

People will remain strangers unless you talk to them.

Growing your social circles doesn’t need to be objective, but what about serving others?

The more willing we are to engage with people we know and those we don’t, the more we can display God’s kingdom here on Earth through humble servitude.

There’s an obvious difference between a community that communicates in contrast with a community who “politically” “socially” isolates that does not.

4. Be Honest 

Be honest with other people, and be honest with yourself.

If you withhold the truth from people, then you’re being deceitful or, even worse, lying.

That’s a sin.

If you aren’t honest with people about their sins, then you are enabling them.

Don’t think for a second God will not hold you accountable nor blameless.

Similarly, sometimes people don’t give us the truth because they are afraid of how we will respond.

They don’t think we can handle the truth, and if they’re correct, that’s a serious problem.

If we recognize ourselves as sinners in need of a Savior, then we must be flawed.

And if flawed, then we can and should be admonished.

5. Stop Talking about Yourself

Too many of our conversations start, end, and endure because of the subject matter – ourselves.

How many conversations would we have, and how long would we bother talking if instead of discussing ourselves, we focused on other people and their ideas?

6. Actually Love People

A number of us Christians believe we are loving others, when in fact, we are doing just the opposite.

To love someone does not equal nor equate to being nice to them.

To love someone is to do what’s best for them.

Sometimes that love manifests as nice words and gestures.

Sometimes love manifests as punishment and criticism.

In either case, the intended result is the same – to help the other grow.

Connecting This With Living Into The Resurrection

Once we have identified ways in which we can grow and mature, then grow and mature into living into the resurrection life Christ Jesus died to exemplify to all.

Once we have identified ways we can help others grow and mature, then we help them grow and mature into the resurrection life Christ Jesus died to exemplify.

Obviously change and transformation won’t “simply” happen for them or for us overnight, but only by the grace of God, 100% change can and will happen.

And if we can change as individuals, then as a community, change is inevitable.

The signs of a degrading society don’t have to be qualities we accept.

We have the choice right now to be different, and if different, then better.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 19:13-14 Easy-to-Read Version

13 Don’t let me do what I know is wrong.
    Don’t let sin control me.
If you help me, I can be pure
    and free from sin.
14 May my words and thoughts please you.
    Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.

Bread of life,

through your life you taught us to put away bitterness and anger,

through your life you ministered to us with tenderhearted kindness

to humble ourselves, to share the fruit of our labor with the needy.

By your resurrection, by thy empty tomb, Strengthen us by your grace,

that in a blessed and holy and most sacred communion with you,

we may forgive one another as you forgave us all on Calvary‘s mount.

and with you alone in our hearts, live in love as Christ loved us. Amen.

Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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