September 24, 2024

Bob Maas
“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, anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:29-32

These verses have one thing in common: They address the one thing it is humanly impossible to control. All of us can control many things in our lives, and we are able, through disciplined training, to overcome many bad habits. But the words that come from our mouths make or break us; they bless, curse, and offer life or death.

When we have a conversation with another person, there are four things we must understand. First, there is what we say, the actual words, our voice inflection, the tone of our voice, the attitude of our heart, and our prejudices. Second, there is what we think we said. Third, there is what the other person hears, and fourth, what they think they heard.

No matter how much we desire to be good communicators, we will never have control over what other people hear and how they interpret what they hear. The good news is that we can learn how to cultivate attitudes that help us be understood. These verses are beneficial.

Ensure our words are wholesome, helpful, beneficial, calm, delightful, kind, and compassionate. By maintaining an attitude of forgiveness toward everyone, we can extend mercy and grace. We can’t do that on our own, but we can if we live dependently on God.