Saturday after Trinity XII - Devotion in semi-Exile
Lection for Saturday after Trinity XII
2 Kings 2:19-25; 4:1-7 Ephesians 4:25-5:14
Did you pay attention to the Ephesians text? It starts like this, Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
How about that for a plan, speak truth with one another and lay aside falsehood. Why? Because we are members one of another.
I suppose it would be good advice for the world at large, especially in the middle of the political season we are in. Can you imagine every candidate speaking the truth, and speaking only nicely of one another? Wow! It might even lead to people not minding campaign ads, but as it is now, those are the times to go channel surfing.
But this text is especially talking to those who are members of one another, that is, to the church. We are to speak (as it says a few verses later) wholesome words about one another.
It is amazing how many half-truths, innuendos, and downright lies are told by church members, to other church members, about another member of the same congregation. And then, those stories are passed on, and on, throughout the congregation. Afterall, nobody from church would tell lies about someone else in church.
Of course, this is a problem that begins in the heart. Such violations of the 8th Commandment would cease if there were not some problem in the heart with the one hearing or telling the stories that ruin another’s reputation. If there were not anger or malice in the heart, it would stop.
Thankfully in the church there is another speaking of truth which lays aside falsehood. It is the Word of Christ. Jesus, just before His ascension, declared that a word of truth be spoken – a Word of Christ who is Truth is to be spoken. At the end of Luke’s Gospel it is recorded for us. Jesus said, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Lk. 24:44-48)
Christ for the forgiveness of sins is the healing Word of Truth spoken into the ears of all those who are members of one another. It is a Word that we can all speak to one another. It is a much better Word, it is The Word which brings healing to sick and sinful hearts.
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth (Christ) each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another…
And Paul explains in verses 29-32 how to do this: Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
I could write some more here, and yes, many of my devotions do stretch on a bit. So, I will bring this to a close.
Let me begin the “speaking of Christ” with one another. I forgive all who have spoken vile, hateful things to me, or of me – in the name of Christ Jesus.
AND…I beg of you, if I have done something which has brought you pain or hurt, forgive me – in the name of Christ Jesus.
2 Kings 2:19-25; 4:1-7 Ephesians 4:25-5:14
Did you pay attention to the Ephesians text? It starts like this, Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.
How about that for a plan, speak truth with one another and lay aside falsehood. Why? Because we are members one of another.
I suppose it would be good advice for the world at large, especially in the middle of the political season we are in. Can you imagine every candidate speaking the truth, and speaking only nicely of one another? Wow! It might even lead to people not minding campaign ads, but as it is now, those are the times to go channel surfing.
But this text is especially talking to those who are members of one another, that is, to the church. We are to speak (as it says a few verses later) wholesome words about one another.
It is amazing how many half-truths, innuendos, and downright lies are told by church members, to other church members, about another member of the same congregation. And then, those stories are passed on, and on, throughout the congregation. Afterall, nobody from church would tell lies about someone else in church.
Of course, this is a problem that begins in the heart. Such violations of the 8th Commandment would cease if there were not some problem in the heart with the one hearing or telling the stories that ruin another’s reputation. If there were not anger or malice in the heart, it would stop.
Thankfully in the church there is another speaking of truth which lays aside falsehood. It is the Word of Christ. Jesus, just before His ascension, declared that a word of truth be spoken – a Word of Christ who is Truth is to be spoken. At the end of Luke’s Gospel it is recorded for us. Jesus said, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. (Lk. 24:44-48)
Christ for the forgiveness of sins is the healing Word of Truth spoken into the ears of all those who are members of one another. It is a Word that we can all speak to one another. It is a much better Word, it is The Word which brings healing to sick and sinful hearts.
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth (Christ) each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another…
And Paul explains in verses 29-32 how to do this: Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
I could write some more here, and yes, many of my devotions do stretch on a bit. So, I will bring this to a close.
Let me begin the “speaking of Christ” with one another. I forgive all who have spoken vile, hateful things to me, or of me – in the name of Christ Jesus.
AND…I beg of you, if I have done something which has brought you pain or hurt, forgive me – in the name of Christ Jesus.
In this manner, let us build one another up in Christ.
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