| “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful or building others up according to their needs…” |
| —Ephesians 4:29a |
As we move along the pathway that God has opened before us, one of the joys in relating to our brothers and sisters in Christ comes from the opportunities we have to build each other up. In a culture where many people spend an inordinate amount of time tearing other people down, we can set a totally opposite example. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29-32:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Behaving in a God-honoring way toward our fellow believers should really be a “no-brainer.” After all, we’re going to spend eternity with each other. We might as well learn how to encourage each other and generally get along. Shouldn’t we?
Seriously, we really should do our best to build up our brothers and sisters in Christ. Christianity is not a way of life for lone wolves. In order to fulfill our Lord’s commands, it’s clearly a faith that depends on the community of believers.
Let’s remember to encourage each other today. We will all benefit from such behavior.
Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, May 13, 2016
