OUR DAILY BREAD : CLEAN UP THE ENVIRONMENT

[cimi]

April 8
Thursday


CLEAN UP THE
ENVIRONMENT

READ:
Ephesians 4:17-32
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Let no corrupt word
proceed out of your
mouth, but what is
good for necessary
edification.
__Ephesians 4:29
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What a frustrating problem pollution is! Everybody suffers with it, yet everybody contributes to it.

Pollution takes many forms, but one type is often overlooked. Charles Swindoll calls it "verbal pollution," passed around by grumblers, complainers, and criticizers. "The poison of pessimism," Swindoll writes, "creates an atmosphere of wholesale negativism were nothing but the bad side of everything is emphasized."

A group of Christian friends became concerned about this form of pollution and their personal part in it. So they made a pact to avoid critical words for a whole week. They were surprised to find how little they spoke! as they continued the experiment, they actually had to relearn conversation skills.

In Ephesians 4, Paul called believers to that sort of decisive action. He said we are to "put off" the old self and its conduct that grieves the Holy Spirit (vv.22,30) and "put on" the new self that builds up others (v.24). As we rely on the help of the Spirt (Gal. 5:16), we can make those changes in our conduct, our thinking, and our speaking.

If we want to be rid of verbal pollution, we must choose to change and ask for God's help. It's a great way to start cleaning up our spiritual environment. __Joanie Yoder
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``````````````````What! Never speak one evil word,``````````````
``````````````````````Or rash, or idle, or unkind!`````````````````
```````````````````O how shall I, most gracious Lord,``````````````
````````````````This mark of true perfection find? __Wesley````````
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Help stamp out pollution--clean up your speech!

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 4:17-32**********

17 This I say, therefore, and
testify in the Lord, that you
should no longer walk as the
rest of the Gentiles walk....

20 But you have not so
learned Christ, 21 if indeed
you have heard Him and
have been taught by Him, as
the truth is in Jesus: 22 that
you put off, concerning your
former conduct, the old man
which grows corrupt
according to the deceitful
lusts, 23 and be renewed in
the spirit of your mind, 24 and
that you put on the new man
which was created according
to God, in true righteousness
and holiness.

25 Therefore, putting away
lying, "Let each one of you
speak truth with his
neighbor," for we are
members of one another.

26 "Be angry, and do not sin':
do not let the sun go down
on your wrath, 27 nor give
place to the devil. 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.

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. 30 And do not grieve
the Holy Spirit of God, by
whom you were sealed for
the day of redemption. 31 Let
all bitterness, wrath, anger,
clamor, and evil speaking be
put away from you, with all
malice. 32 And be kind to one
another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even
as God in Christ forgave you.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In the discussion of "old man" and "new man," there is one word
that describes the goal of redemption--transformation. The change
that a heart undergoes as a result of relationship with Christ should
fundamentally transform us, identifying us as those transferred from
darkness into the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13). __BILL CROWDER