Yesterday, in the post titled "Writing on the Transparency," we looked at some things that needed to be erased and overwritten for us to be transparent. Now that we have put away with malice the things we looked at yesterday, let's look at some behaviors that have to be changed to live transparently. Yesterday we looked at our words and how speak to one another. We discussed our responses to each other in times of anger with harsh words instead of a softly spoken word. We know that nothing productive comes from Angry communication. But what about our behavior? What about our actions? What do we need to be careful of and eliminate from our behavior to be transparent?
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, "LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK Truth WITH HIS NEIGHBOR," for we are members of one another.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, "LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK Truth WITH HIS NEIGHBOR," for we are members of one another.
We are really good at lying. All of us are. From small "little white" lies to big whopping fish stories and just flat out untruths. As believers, we should not be participating in such things. Again, there are the words "put away". Speak truth. Sometimes the truth hurts and can be harsh when we try to be truthful with someone. We have to speak truth. Jesus is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE (John 14:6). In fact, He said no one can come to the Father except through Him. If we are lying, are we in Him? When we lie are practicing the things of Jesus - the traits and characteristics that He exhibited? How can we? He is truth. He cannot lie and in Him, there can be lies.
Ephesians 4:26-27 "BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, (27) nor give place to the devil.
So, we can be angry, but we can be angry and not sin. What is the difference? The difference is in how we deal with the anger. Do we sit and stew over the issue that made us angry? Do we dwell on it, love it, pet it, and put it in our pockets to take and re-examine later? We are not to let the sun go down on our wrath (or anger). We are to deal with the issue before the sun sets. Deal with it, confront it, take those thoughts (and emotions) captive unto the subjection of Jesus Christ, offer forgiveness where necessary, ask for forgiveness where necessary, give Christ praise and thanks, and then let it go. Let. It. Go. When we do not let "it" go, we "give place to the devil." What does that mean? That means that we give the devil an open doorway, an opportunity, to enter into our hearts, thoughts, emotions and wreak whatever havoc he chooses to...all because we would not make the decision to NOT be angry. Our enemy is already roaming the earth looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Why should we help him in his search? Do not hold onto anger. Let it go.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
We all know what it means to steal. It means to take something that does not belong to you. What is the remedy for theft? Working. Labor means: to feel fatigue, to work hard, to be wearied. The definition of labor in the original Greek is not just to go through the motions, but it is a commitment to working. It is a commitment to providing for yourself and your family...even until it brings fatigue. We work (labor) until we can't anymore. But look at verse 28 again...why do we work? We work to give...we don't work to gain. We work to bless, we work what is good...so that we can bless others when there is a need to meet.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:26-27 "BE ANGRY, AND DO NOT SIN": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, (27) nor give place to the devil.
So, we can be angry, but we can be angry and not sin. What is the difference? The difference is in how we deal with the anger. Do we sit and stew over the issue that made us angry? Do we dwell on it, love it, pet it, and put it in our pockets to take and re-examine later? We are not to let the sun go down on our wrath (or anger). We are to deal with the issue before the sun sets. Deal with it, confront it, take those thoughts (and emotions) captive unto the subjection of Jesus Christ, offer forgiveness where necessary, ask for forgiveness where necessary, give Christ praise and thanks, and then let it go. Let. It. Go. When we do not let "it" go, we "give place to the devil." What does that mean? That means that we give the devil an open doorway, an opportunity, to enter into our hearts, thoughts, emotions and wreak whatever havoc he chooses to...all because we would not make the decision to NOT be angry. Our enemy is already roaming the earth looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Why should we help him in his search? Do not hold onto anger. Let it go.
Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Corrupt = rotten and worthless. What are you allowing to leave your mouth that is rotten and worthless for those within hearing distance of you? I know sometimes our mouths open before our brains can lock it down and words just seem to fall out from time to time. But we have to be better than that. Our transparency becomes clouded when we speak rotten, worthless words. We should be speaking words that build up. Words that are good. Words that are encouraging to those around us. All the time. Not just some of the time. But all the time. Words are life. Words are death. Which are you imparting to those around you?
This weekend, let's concentrate on being transparent...letting the Holy Spirit erase what is keeping us clouded and unable to allow the light of Jesus to shine through us. Let's concentrate on allowing the Holy Spirit to write new things upon us. Life, love, joy, peace...and let others see it.
