Today is January 7.


The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.    
  
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”     
    
Today’s reading is from the Book of Ephesians, chapter 4.    
   

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. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.   
1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children. 
 
  
I am glad you are taking time to Be Still today. As we enter into our time of prayer, consider these three incredible words from the passage we just read… perhaps three words you missed while paying attention to everything else: Paul says that you are ‘dearly loved children’ of God. Which implies you love God dearly. How near – or far – do you feel to a dearly loved Child of God right now? 
   
Paul is speaking to the Ephesian church – giving them a specific example of what it means to ‘follow the example’ set before us by Christ himself: in our speech, and treatment of one another. You may notice that the words Paul uses in the first bit are action words. They are not only things we might feel…. They are feelings we might express in the way we treat others: being unwholesome, or crude. Bitterness or anger or rage – which all too often spill out sideways into our actions. As you listen to the reading again, I’d encourage you to do so with humility and curiosity: is your speech generally filled with compassion and forgiveness? Is the way you talk to and about others generally helpful to them? Or might you have succumbed to the temptation of anger? Bitterness? Slander or gossip? Be honest before the Lord. 
   
One the one hand, our culture today can sometimes be experienced as a purity patrol…. Where our speech gets policed and we’re afraid to say the wrong thing! On the other hand, our culture today has a problem with angry and bitter and untrue speech – social media platforms and online comment sections are proof of that. Paul doesn’t just tell Christians to ‘be nice’ or ‘don’t say mean things’. Paul says: you’re supposed to have the same heart for others that He has for you: a heart of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. This week, and maybe forever – when you go to open your mouth or post online… as yourself: is this kind? Is it compassionate? Is it helpful? If not… do I need to practice forgiveness in some area?

The Bible says that the things that come out of our mouths reflect the state of our heart. That’s not always a pretty picture. This year, if you struggle with your patterns of speech, with coarseness, with anger, or with gossip… be serious about your commitment to follow the way of Christ – as God’s dearly loved children.