Verse of the Day 11/9

Verse of the Day 11/9

Ephesians 4:31-32   Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Thank goodness the midterm elections are over and we can go back to normal, or can we?  Some races are still to be decided, lawsuits challenging the results will drag this out for weeks and perhaps longer.  The news will be full of political bitterness, anger and wrath as politicians and reporters clamor for attention.  Unfortunately, even when the elections are finally settled there is little hope that there will be civility in our government.  There will still be people getting in others faces in public places saying "you are not welcome here".   That is not how it should or is supposed to be.

Kindness should replace slander; tenderheartedness should replace malice; and  forgiveness should replace wrath and anger?  Where does it begin?

I remember singing a chorus in church in my childhood, "There's a Welcome Here".

There's a welcome here, a welcome here
A Christian welcome here, Hallelujah!
There's a welcome here, a welcome here
A Christian welcome here!

If bitterness, wrath, anger and slander are to be done away with it begins with a change in attitude, not "you are not welcome here" but "you are welcome here", let's talk about it, reason together and if necessary agree to disagree.

Read the short passage from The Message below, may we be encouraged and challenged not  to get caught up in the clamor, but.......

^31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Ephesians 4:29-32 The Message (MSG)

²⁹ Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

³⁰ Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

^31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.