Instead

Instead

Ephesians 4: ²⁹ Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. ³⁰ And do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. ³² Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

 

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Nervous to use “bad words”, I kept my conversation to a minimum. Unfortunately this particular day was my turn to be picked on by thugs and by some, who I thought were my friends. I blurted out some curse words I had heard over the years. Laughter came from all over. “You don’t even know how to curse!” someone said.

 

• I was embarrassed so I practiced harmful words to keep them available, just in case.
• I wanted to fit in and rationalized that no words were really “bad” words, they were just words.
• I wanted to “vent” and to tell these people off so they would leave me alone!

 

Paul had a huge task in front of him. He was addressing verbal fights and numerous arguments. This divisiveness led to passive and overt attacks on one another that was used to tear people down. GOD gave another path through Paul’s writing.

 

My Observations

• Instead of my first reaction to combative situations, I have to quiet down and listen to GOD.
• Instead of festering over what is making me angry, I need to seek GOD’s peace.
• Instead of becoming bitter, lustful or enraged, I must first find another way, namely ask the HOLY SPIRIT for help.

 

“Do not make GOD’s HOLY SPIRIT sad” are strange words that stick out to me. I mean, all powerful GOD can be hurt by my words and choices? Apparently HE can. My guess is HE knows how harmful my words and actions can really be to others and to myself. HE also knows the consequences of my choices and how detrimental they will be later in life or eternity.

 

GOD wants me to “be” forgiven and “feel” forgiven. HE forgives me forever, but when I sin or want to hurt people because of a bitter heart, I do not “feel” forgiven which causes me to spiral into harmful ways. GOD wants me to be built up so HE gives me to opportunity to use “helpful words” to build others up to serve HIM. I am glad HE forgives me and you.

 

Challenge.

• What is the overall plea of the writer?
• How would you like to be treated by others?
• Will you take GOD’s advice and please the HOLY SPIRIT by being “kind”, “tender hearted” and “forgiving” to one another today?

Hearing Test

Hearing Test

Acts 3: ²² For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. ²³ And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ ²⁴ Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. ²⁵ You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ ²⁶ To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

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Hearing aids were huge contraptions I was scared of getting when I heard we had to take a hearing test. What if I can’t hear? I said to myself. Nervously I slipped on the headphones and heard sounds, raising my hand at the faintest noise. I passed. But when I got in trouble and someone called my name, I ignored it. “Do you hear me calling you?” They said.

• There were times when I did not want to hear what others were saying.
• There were times when I tuned people out who were “on my nerves.”
• There were times when I listened to the information but was thinking about something else.

Peter spoke about Moses, Samuel and Abraham regarding prophecies they said about JESUS. “HIM you shall hear in all things, whatever HE says to you” was a statement to those who listened to JESUS. But those who did not listen would be destroyed.

• GOD tells me of HIS promise to save me from destruction.
• GOD tells me of HIS promise to protect me from eternal death.
• GOD tells me of HIS promise to hold onto me so the evil one cannot get me out of HIS hand.

Not listening to the fact that JESUS became a human, died for the sins of mankind, and was raised from the dead, is what sends a person to an eternal separation from GOD in a place of eternal increasing torment. GOD made it easy to believe, yet there will be some who chose not to.

GOD gave everyone free will to choose HIM. This is the only scenario where love can exist. I can choose to be with my loving GOD, who cares for me in every way, or not to. I choose JESUS as my Savior and I am grateful for HIS protection.

• Are you wrestling with how JESUS is GOD and became a human who died and was raised?
• Do you think there is no need to be saved from anything?
• Will you consider “love” as the reason GOD did all of this specifically for you?
• When human love has and will fail you, will you accept GOD’s everlasting love though CHRIST our Savior today?

Dangerous Road

Mark 3: ²⁸ “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; ²⁹ but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— ³⁰ because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

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Tired of traffic, I sought another way home. One day I saw a familiar cement truck poke out from a dirt road. “I think I saw that truck in my neighborhood” I said to myself. I followed the truck, lo and behold, it was a shortcut to my neighborhood. I tried to navigate the same route back to work the next day and almost drove off a cliff.

• Some routes I have chosen have been dangerous.
• Some roads I have driven on have been deadly.
• Some places I have driven have been very close to a fatal end.

One bad turn on this construction road would have been a final turn for me. Unfortunately the Pharisees and Scribes took the wrong turn and crossed the line with JESUS. When they said “HE has an unclean SPIRIT” they were saying “GOD is unclean or evil.” They went down a dangerous road where they had no return.

• GOD says to me “I AM love and I love you.”
• GOD says to me “MY ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the way.”

Sometimes I travelled down another dangerous road, namely the road of thinking GOD is evil. I mean what kind of GOD would allow “fill in the blank.” Instead of getting to know HIM, I would blame HIM for HIS existence and methods. This path was built on self-pity or selfishness.

GOD wants me to know that I know that I know HE has my best interest in mind. HE is not evil nor are HIS plans for me. HE protects me in spite of me. HE keeps me from driving off the cliff even when I try to go down the wrong road. HE is my forgiver and I love HIM.

• Are you blaming GOD?
• Do you call GOD evil?
• Will you turn onto a better road by praising HIM and HIS ways today?