Our hurtful words harm other believers and hurt God.
Ephesians 4:29 NASB95:
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."
The apostle Paul reminds the Ephesians that the Holy Spirit dwells so closely with us that the ugly words we speak to other believers grieve the Spirit of God's Son, our Lord Jesus. The word "unwholesome" means "spoiled" or "rotten." Rotten speak spoils unity between believers. Speaking hurtful words to each other grieves the Holy Spirit—Slander, gossip, abusive, and obscene language harm the Christian community. Disrupting the unity of the Christian community grieves the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul reminds us, "... not [to] grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:30-32).
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me Your Spirit to help me "... walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [we] have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also [we] were called in one hope of [our] calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:1-6).
Holy Spirit, help us, "... [lay] aside falsehood, speak TRUTH EACH ONE of [us] WITH [OUR] NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. Be ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on [our] anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity" (Ephesians 4:25-27). Today I will make every effort to be an imitator of God, as His beloved child; and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Ephesians 5:1–2). I will think before I speak so my words never grieve the Spirit of God. In Jesus' name, amen.
Daily Devotion
Our hurtful words harm other believers and hurt God.
Ephesians 4:29 NASB95:
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."
The apostle Paul reminds the Ephesians that the Holy Spirit dwells so closely with us that the ugly words we speak to other believers grieve the Spirit of God's Son, our Lord Jesus. The word "unwholesome" means "spoiled" or "rotten." Rotten speak spoils unity between believers. Speaking hurtful words to each other grieves the Holy Spirit—Slander, gossip, abusive, and obscene language harm the Christian community. Disrupting the unity of the Christian community grieves the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul reminds us, "... not [to] grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:30-32).
Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me Your Spirit to help me "... walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which [we] have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also [we] were called in one hope of [our] calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:1-6).
Holy Spirit, help us, "... [lay] aside falsehood, speak TRUTH EACH ONE of [us] WITH [OUR] NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another. Be ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on [our] anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity" (Ephesians 4:25-27). Today I will make every effort to be an imitator of God, as His beloved child; and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma" (Ephesians 5:1–2). I will think before I speak so my words never grieve the Spirit of God. In Jesus' name, amen.