Focus

Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.

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Read

Ephesians 4:25–5:2 (NRSV)

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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Reflect

Really, Paul? Who can stick to these rules? If you are witnessing to a new convert and sharing this scripture, he or she is likely to feel more than a little overwhelmed. Yet, as I read this passage again, it is clear. In black and white it tells me what not to do and what to do. If I focus on what I should do, that takes care of those things that I am not to do. That may be backward, but it works for me.

Verse 29 says that our words should be only those that are “useful for building up…so that your words may give grace to those who hear.” While recovering from surgery and feeling pretty grumpy, I got a poem from someone. The bottom line was “Today I will be someone’s sunshine.” Such a nice thought and goal for the day. The poem was my sunshine that day.

One of the hardest of these rules to follow is to forgive one another as God in Christ has forgiven us. It’s much easier to hold a grudge and treat someone badly than it is to forgive and live in love. But forgiving is absolutely necessary if we are to be imitators of God. Paul might be tempted to tell us to get over ourselves and just do it!

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Pray

Lord in Heaven, give us the strength and endurance to keep these rules. Thank you for being willing to forgive us. Help us to show the same forgiving spirit and “live in love as Christ loved us.” Amen.

Go with God.