Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 2
Sunday


WII AND MII

READ:
Ephesians 4:25-5:1
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Let each one of you
speak truth with his
neighbor, for we are
members of one
another.
__Ephesians 4:25
________________________________

Our grandsons introduced me to the amazing world of virtual bowling using the Nintendo wii (pronounced we) video-game console. But before beginning, we had to create my lookalike character called Mii (me). From a selection of facial characteristics, they quickly created a person whose hair, nose, glasses, and mouth looked surprisingly like me. "Hey, Grandpa," they said. "It's you!" And so it was.

Much of our self-concept comes from others. The feedback of family and friends is vital in helping us discover our unique gifts. As followers of Christ, we are charged with making an honest, positive contribution to each other. We can apply the words of Paul to this critical process. "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another....Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers" (Eph. 4:25,29).

Between the extremes of hazardous flattery and destructive criticism, we should aim for beneficial reality in what we say to each other. In the "we" of Christian community, the "Me" of personality is shaped. It's a great privilege and responsibility to help each other discover who we are in Christ. __David McCasland
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```````````````Together, Lord, we seek Thy will;``````````````````
```````````````We bow before Thee--yielded still;`````````````````
`````````````````We come today, as oft before.``````````````````
`````````And with each coming love Thee more. __Group````````````
_____________________________________________________________True community is not organized but exercised.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 4:25-5:1***********

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.
Ephesians 5

1 Therefore be imitators of
God as dear children.

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

Notice the series of instructions Paul gives to his friends in Ephesus,
each beginning with the word let. He calls them to integrity ("let
each one of you speak truth," v.25), forgiveness ("do not let the sun
go down on your wrath," v.26), personal responsibility ("let him
labor" instead of steal, v.28), proper conversation ("let no corrupt
word," v.29), and appropriate heart attitudes ("let all bitterness,"
v.31). These practical insights are important reminders to us as well
as we live for Christ. __WEC