Ephesians 4: 17-32

New International Version for Verse 23: to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

New Living Translation

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Verse 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

The MessageV 29 29Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

This week the passage was rich with instruction for living a life honorable as a Christian. I particularly enjoyed meditating on Verse 23 and Verse 29. Verse 23 spoke to me in a personal way and renewed my spirit, keeping me in a positive mindset reminding me of the joy that is mind as God’s child. Verse 29 reminded me how to behave and that my own words should be positive and honorable-speaking in a way that my words are a gift to others.

When I began this study, I did not expect to find the joy I’ve received from being in God’s Word that I’ve found. I have never spent this much time just ruminating on passages, saturating myself with God’s instruction through Paul so that I can live more Christ-like. Living in this manner has always been one of the things to do but Paul’s instructions give specific and pointed behaviors that are to be chosen over certain other behavior. I have found that Paul is focused on being positive and living in a way that makes a positive contribution. Whereas some may find the “rules” for living to be prescriptive I find them to be broad and allowing for much latitude within a context of knowing we should live in community with one another sharing our giftedness and making others’ lives better because of our presence and words.

This week I shared with a friend how much she makes me a better person and that her being her makes a positive contribution to my life. After spending time in Paul’s instructions and feeling the sense of urgency to make a positive contribution and live a life worthy of the Christian calling I felt I should use my words to let her know how much of a blessing she is to me. I hope that she was uplifted by my words and that I honored Paul’s instructions through this choice.

I often pray that Christ will guide my words and my choices. Often I open my mouth and the words that come forth have to be blessed by God because they are more wise than I am and they provide information that is beyond my own capacity. I am thankful that I can turn to Christ and allow myself to be used in a way that positively impacts other people. I know I’m far, far from even good at this and I hope that I can continue to improve at being uplifting to others and that I can continue to improve at being a blessing to be around.