Ephesians 4:25-32

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning.

Speech is a simple concept, filled with complicated challenges. As we learn to speak, speaking becomes easier as we master the ability. At some point, speaking becomes almost too easy. Often times you hear people say that they spoke before giving thought to what they were going to say. Herein lies the greatest and most complicated aspect of speaking: Learning to think before we speak.

One emotion that will often complicate our speaking is anger. In Ephesians 4:26, Paul warns Christians to keep control over their anger. Paul said, "Be angry, and do not sin." One way that we might sin when we are angry is through our speech. In verse 29 of the same chapter, Paul wrote, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth . . ." Then again, in verse 31, "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice." You might apply this rule: The greater your anger, the greater your need to think twice before you speak.

Another way a person can sin using their speech is though telling lies. Paul wrote in verse 25, "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another." Sometimes we may find it easier to avoid telling the truth by giving a "misdirecting" answer or a lie. If you do not want to answer a question, then simply do not answer it. Do not lie your way out of the question. Whatever reasons a person may have for telling lies or "half-truths", he must consider whether or not telling the lie is worthy sinning against God.

Let us give a great deal of thought, effort, and time to the controlling of our speech. Keep control over your emotions and stay away from the temptation to tell lies.

Here is Ephesians 4:25-32 presented for your consideration.

Ephesians 4:25-32

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.

In Love,

John Duvall

John 6:65-71

Dear Brethren,

Good Thursday morning!

While Jesus was a great teacher, not everyone accepted nor liked what He had to say. In John 6, there were people who left Jesus because of the things that He said. They found Jesus's sayings too hard to accept.

Today, there are people who likewise find the teachings of Jesus hard to accept. Many of these people will walk away from Jesus and His teachings. In our encounters with those who are lost in sin, we must prepare ourselves to face the fact that some people will depart from God's word.

More importantly, are you and I continuing to accept the teachings of Jesus, or do we sometimes find Jesus's teachings too hard to follow? Let us be like Jesus's apostles and follow Jesus and His teachings. The apostles asked the question, “Lord, to whom shall we go?" Jesus has the "words of eternal life." Let us follow Jesus because we believe in Him and we know that He is the Christ, the Son of God.

Here is John 6:65-71 for your consideration.

John 6:65-71

65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

In Love,

John Duvall

Hebrews 1:1-4

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

How does God speak to people? At one time, many, many years ago, God spoke to the Israelite nation by the prophets. These instances of communication between God and His people can be found throughout the pages of the Old Testament. During the days preceding the establishment of the Lord's church, God spoke to the people by His Son, Jesus Christ. Today, we have Jesus's teachings and laws found within the pages of what we call the New Testament. If a person will study the New Testament, he will read what God has spoken through Jesus Christ and His inspired writers.

For a minute, let us consider some of the attributes of Jesus, the One through whom God spoke to mankind. According to Hebrews 1:1-4:

• God appointed Jesus heir of all things.
• Through Jesus God made the worlds.
• Jesus is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of God's person.
• After Jesus purged our sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, upholding all things by His power.
• Jesus became much better than the angels having obtained a more excellent name than the angels.
  

If you desire to hear God, then you must hear Jesus. To hear the words of Jesus, you have only to turn to the pages of God's wonderful word, the Bible. Turn your hear to the wonderful word of God today.

Here is Hebrews 1:1-4 presented for your consideration.

Hebrews 1:1-4

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

In Love,

John Duvall

Colossians 3:18-21

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

The family relationship should be a tightly woven relationship. In order to accomplish such a solid family structure, every family member should be doing their part as instructed by the heavenly Father. In Paul's letter to the church in Colosse, he established the pattern for a godly family.

• The wife is to submit to her husband, "as is fitting in the Lord." According to Ephesians 5, the husband is the head of the family. As a result, he is to lead the family and direct the family. The wife is to willingly submit to her husband's rule. The statement "as is fitting in the Lord" would exclude the wife from following her husband if he directs the family away from God. While Genesis 2 establishes the wife as a companion suitable for the husband, she is still to be in submission to her husband, following his rule and leadership.
• Just as the wife's submission is crucial to a solid family relationship, so is the husband's love for his wife. Paul told the husbands to love their wives, not being bitter towards them. The husband's love for his wife must be greater than his love for anyone else, except for the Lord. He should not be mean spirited towards his wife. He must not be "bitter" or angry towards his wife. The husband is to rule the wife with a loving heart, compassion, and understanding. While the husband is to rule, he is to rule with love.
• The children also have an important part to play in this tightly woven family. The children are to obey their parents "in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord." This teaching is very simple and easy to understand; children must obey their parents.
• Leadership often carries a double duty. Fathers carry the added responsibility of not provoking their children to anger. Fathers, as well as mothers, are to command their children, but in this passage it becomes clear that the ruler of the house must not rule in a way that would discourage his children. Discouragement can be caused by treating the children unjustly, unfairly, being overly angry, etc. A ruler of the house must command his children with love, fairness, equity, and compassion.
  

Not everyone in the world accepts Paul's guidelines for the family structure. Many marriages struggle with who will rule the family. There are husbands who refuse to rule and wives who refuse to submit. There are children who never obey and fathers who dominate the family without regard to fairness, love, compassion, etc. However, Christians possess the guidelines for a tightly woven family relationship, filled with love, compassion, and cooperation. Such godly relationships can be enjoyed by the saints throughout the world.

Here is Colossians 3:18-21 presented for your consideration.

18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

In Love,

John Duvall