Let No Rotten Communication Come From My Mouth

During my Bible reading this morning, I was struck deeply by this verse:

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Ephesians 4:29

Wow, wow, and wow. "No corrupt communication." It doesn't say, "not too much corrupt communication," but rather "NO corrupt communication." 

Have NO Rotten Talk!
Photo from MorgueFile

  

I had a question: what is meant by "corrupt?" In today's world, we usually associate the word, "corrupt" with bribery of political figures or law enforcement officers. But is there another meaning? 

A look at some commentaries reveals that "corrupt" is an archaic word for rotten, and implies something that spread rottenness. Also, it is something that has not been preserved by salt, and therefore, is rotting. 

Rotten communication, then, is that which spreads rottenness to others, rather than grace. Makes them feel unworthy, berates them, or to feel discouraged when they were not before. 

How many times have I spread rottenness to my loved ones, without meaning to, but simply by not ensuring that all of my communication has been salted by the grace of God's love and truth? 

How many times have I spoken my fears and worries out loud, before taking them to the Father God, for his Master's touch? On how many occasions have I blurted out my hurt and anger to a loved one, before quieting my heart and allowing God to heal my wound? 

Too many times, I confess, today, brothers and sisters. So I share this word to your heart, and to mine:

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: But be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you. 

Ephesians 4: 31,32

Who is your enemy?

As I was talking to a friend today, she said to me, "we need to not react whenever people say things to us that we don't like. We have to love them no matter what." 

And her words hit me deeply, because I had done just the opposite the day before. A misunderstanding, an offense, and my day was thrown off, words were said not fit for the kingdom of God. 

Jesus said:

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.

Luke 6:27

I think sometimes, as good Christians, we don't believe that we have any enemies. But what if our enemies are just enemies of the moment, like the husband who is unreasonably angry, or the teenager who refuses to show respect? 

What if our enemy is the coworker who always talks about us behind our back, or the boss who does not understand that sometimes we get sick and need a day off? 

I know it is easy for me to be unloving to someone who has hurt me. How justified I can be in seeing the wrong that has been done to me. But is not this person, at the time, my enemy? Can not even my husband be "the enemy" when we are in the midst of a terrible disagreement? 

My friend's words hit hard: we are to show love to everyone, even our "enemies of the moment." She was spot on, and her casual comment pierced my heart. How difficult the words of Jesus to practice, but how peaceful the result if we do! Amen. 

Welcome to Grace Daily

Hello, and welcome to Grace Daily! This little blog will feature small devotions based on Scripture to encourage your heart. Let me introduce myself briefly. 

My name is Sharilee. At the age of six, I accepted Jesus into my heart. Since then, He has been with me, through it all. I have not always been faithful to Him, but I do see how He has been faithful to me. I am starting this blog to share what I have been learning from the Scriptures, through study, through other reading and through preaching. I hope it will be an encouragement to you. 

If you are a Christian, welcome! I love to have you here as a fellow brother or sister in the LORD. If you are not a believer, you can accept Jesus Christ as the one who saves you, by: 

1. Admitting that you are a sinner. That means that you have done, and do wrong things, and that these wrong things keep you  from being perfect and gaining access to God. 
2. Believing that Jesus Christ died on a cross, and literally took your place, so that you do not have to die eternally. 
3. Accepting Jesus Christ as the only way to have access to the Father God. Accepting that his death takes the place of your death, and through him, you are forgiven of your sins and gain eternal life. 

Accepting Jesus is a complete act of surrender and submission. It is admitting that we cannot save ourselves, and that Jesus is "the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the father but by him." When you take this step, you are a believer, a Christian. And it is exciting! I became a believer many years ago, when I was six years ago, and never regretted it. 

The Grace of God is a beautiful thing. Most people in this world do not have grace. We all wish for justice, when a wrong is done. But God went beyond justice, and gave us grace. All we have to do is accept it.