Devotional for Tuesday June 14, 2022
The apostle Paul exhorts us to eradicate from our lives all those sins that we can commit with our conversation: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, … Ephesians 4:29
What is Paul referring to when he speaks of “unwholesome talk”? First of all, he is talking about obscene and vulgar conversations. Paul mentions "tricksters", this is a difficult word to translate adequately; The New American Bible translates it as Meridian "profanity", and can refer to vulgar or bawdy jokes, Psalm 68:1-10 a comment usually related to unseemly matters.
Paul also mentions “foolishness,” and that word encompasses all idle talk that leads nowhere. We can literally translate it "talking nonsense" which usually leads to indecent topics that feed carnality.
The apostle, moreover, refers to "dishonest words"; and this expression was used in those days to refer to shameful, obscene, indecent language; it includes all sorts of things that should put a true child of God to shame.
Words do not remain mere words, but rather contaminate the heart and corrupts the soul; therefore, take care of your conversations.
Written by Juan Daniel De la Vega
Translated by Nelson Baires
Morning Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Noon Psalm 68:1-10
1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
Evening Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Prayer Guide: [E.U. Diócesis Oeste-Kingwood] and [Panamá-Hierba Buena]
This month's challenge is: Think before you judge or act. Ask yourself at all times: how would I want to be treated if I were in that condition? Always remember Jesus' advice: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged: condemn not, and you will not be condemned: forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:36,37
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