More Baby Steps
Ephesians 4:25-27 (New International Version)
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.
Why is speaking truthfully such a hard thing to do when something bothers us?
Reading these verses in Ephesians 4, I see why it is very important to do so. If we don't speak truthfully and we rationalize that we will address the issue "later," we will let the sun go down while we are still angry, and that in turn will give the devil a foothold.
Anger or offence unaddressed, can have some bad results, just as a low grade infection unaddressed in our physical body can.
1. The imagination feeds the offence or anger. Imagination is one of God's most amazing gifts, but when anger fuels fantasy over the perceived faults of others--we can easily become convinced that fantasy is reality.
2. Focusing on the other's faults is a handy tool of the Enemy, to blind us to our own.
Luke 6:42 (New International Version)
42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
If I have learned one thing in my life so far it is that relationship is what life is all about. Relationships are complex, difficult--and the greatest treasure on earth. They are the surest test of the health of our heart spiritually.
The work never ends. Sometimes I feel as if even my baby steps are going backwards and I need to learn to walk all over again.
Dear Lord I am so grateful for the wind of your Holy Spirit. He blows over my heart when it is out of tune, and he touches its' strings so that it sings in harmony with you. Thank you for your never ending patience with us as we learn to walk in your ways. Thank you for your precious Word and for your perfection. How I love you.
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.
Why is speaking truthfully such a hard thing to do when something bothers us?
Reading these verses in Ephesians 4, I see why it is very important to do so. If we don't speak truthfully and we rationalize that we will address the issue "later," we will let the sun go down while we are still angry, and that in turn will give the devil a foothold.
Anger or offence unaddressed, can have some bad results, just as a low grade infection unaddressed in our physical body can.
1. The imagination feeds the offence or anger. Imagination is one of God's most amazing gifts, but when anger fuels fantasy over the perceived faults of others--we can easily become convinced that fantasy is reality.
2. Focusing on the other's faults is a handy tool of the Enemy, to blind us to our own.
Luke 6:42 (New International Version)
42How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
If I have learned one thing in my life so far it is that relationship is what life is all about. Relationships are complex, difficult--and the greatest treasure on earth. They are the surest test of the health of our heart spiritually.
The work never ends. Sometimes I feel as if even my baby steps are going backwards and I need to learn to walk all over again.
Dear Lord I am so grateful for the wind of your Holy Spirit. He blows over my heart when it is out of tune, and he touches its' strings so that it sings in harmony with you. Thank you for your never ending patience with us as we learn to walk in your ways. Thank you for your precious Word and for your perfection. How I love you.
Comments