Ephesians (W8D5) Only What Is Helpful
Week 8. Friday: Only What Is Helpful
PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.
READ: Ephesians 4:29-32
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words
Unwholesome Talk (Greek: sapros logos): rotten, spoiled, unfit for use, worthless
Unwholesome talk should make us sick. Also see Matthew 7:18, James 3:9-12.
Helpful (Greek: agathos): speak only in a way that builds up others.
Grieve (Greek: lypeō): to offend or make sorrowful either passively or actively
Bitterness (Greek: pikria): extreme wickedness, producing bitter fruit, hatred
Rage and Anger (Greek: thymos kai orgē): passionate anger or wrath
Heated anger boiling up quickly and repeatedly.
Thymos is also used to describe an angry drunk.
Brawling (Greek: kraugē): clamor, loud uproar, outcry, inciting chaos
Slander (Greek: blasphēmia): detraction, injurious speech, gossip
Malice (Greek: kakia): wickedness, depravity without shame (Titus 3:3; James 1:21)
Kind (Greek: chrēstos): being fit, useful, and pleasant to others (Romans 2:4)
Compassionate (Greek: eusplagchnos): tender-hearted, merciful (1 Peter 3:8)
Forgiving (Greek: charizomai): to freely give grace, to restore one to another
Forgiveness does not come naturally or easily.
Just As: we are to forgive others just as God forgives us.
Also see Matthew 6:14-15 and Colossians 3:13.
APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?
The phrase “just as” in this passage is the key to understanding the way in which we live this out. Just as God is not wicked and bitter, so we should not be either. Just as God is kind, compassionate, and forgiving, so we should be those things to others.
Who in your life needs you to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving?
What could you do this week to show them kindness and compassion?
PRAY: Ask God to help you be forgiving, even to your enemies.
