School children love to talk.
About everything. Life is grand, so let’s talk about it.
On the ride to school and home again, the noise can be atrocious. We’ve got stuff to say! We can’t be quiet. No way!
If the talk is especially good, the back seat on the bus is the only place to be. We can huddle together, say whatever we want, and no one will be any wiser.
Or should we say, the back pew in the church is the only place to be . . .
Ephesians 4:29 makes sure we understand what’s okay and what’s not.
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
We aren’t to find our hidden place where we can say whatever we wish. That won’t do in God’s house. We must clean up our gossiping, our complaining, and our dowdy speech.
What can we talk about? This verse gives us three guidelines.
- Our words must build up others.
- Our conversation must fit the occasion.
- Grace must flow from what we say unto the ears of our listeners.
These are God’s rules, not mine, yours, or the church’s. If our speech doesn’t fit these parameters, we need to move off the back seat and get a little closer to Christ.
If we can’t think of anything good to say, try talking about the unlimited mercies of our Shepherd and King.
Copyright © 2018 MyChurchNotes.net
Code: FGO.E.15.18e.vp.esv