Some Good Advice

Ephesians 4:25-5:2New International Version (NIV)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”:Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

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. 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The other day Griffin and I were talking and I said to him, “Griffin, you are pretty smart.  How do you think you got that way?”  I was hoping for an answer like, “because I am just like you dad” or “because you are smart too.”  Well, I got neither of those.  Actually, the answer I got blew me away more than those would have.  Griffin said that he was so smart because “Uncle Dan made him that way.”  So I came back with, “Well, I am your dad and you are my son which means I am at least part of the reason why you are so smart.”  In saying that I hoped a light bulb would turn on and he would get it.  Nope.  So then I asked, “How did Uncle Dan make you so smart?” In the hopes I would stump him but his answer was, “Because I listen to him and he has chips in the combine.”  Griffin cannot wait for harvest to get here because he is looking forward to having chips in the combine.  I tell you that story to get you thinking about our scripture for this morning.  Yet again, Paul offers us some great advice in how to deal with one another.  When we truly listen to Paul, when we “eat his proverbial chips” we too are better off.  If every Christian followed the advice found in our scripture this morning the world could be better.  

I have heard a couple older folks say that they would not want to be growing up in this time in history.  The times ahead look dark.  The world is nearly to its breaking point.  I do not know for sure but I am guessing this is a common theme for the older generation even through the sands of time.  I can already see myself saying when I get older.  But there is a unifying hope and strength in our young people and if we do not start supporting that then we will lose them.  Do kids these days spend too much time on their phones?  Probably.  Do they seem entitled?  Yes.  Do they seem to not have respect for their elders like “we used to”?  Some might say so.  But the reason they are entitled is not their fault.  We are the ones handing out trophies to every single participant all the way through their teenage years.  The reason they may seem to not respect their elders is because we judge them based on their looks or what we think we know about them before we really get to know them.  Have we engaged them to get them off of their phones?  The point that I am making is that this generation is way more understanding with one another than we ever were.  They probably know more about the world than we give them credit for.  They are creative.  They are much different than generations past but different does not equal bad nor does it mean the world is headed down the toilet.  Verse 29 of our scripture this morning says, “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.”  If you have a problem with the younger generation spend your time building them up, not tearing them down.  They may not listen but Paul blatantly tells us that they may not.  But someday they will thank you if you do not give up on them.  Remember, someone probably said similar things about you and your generation.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Verse 25 of our scripture this morning reminds us how and why we should speak to one another.  The how -- speak truthfully.  They why -- we are all members of one body.  This scripture alone could save us a lot of discontent and hate towards one another.  If we would remember that we are all loved by the same God; that we were all died for on the same cross; that the Holy Spirit has sealed us for the day of the redemption; then and only then can we start to break down the walls that divide us.  Verse 31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”  We still hold on to all of that.  I would say that we are more defined by the bitterness we hang on to more so than the love we share.  If we have stopped seeing God then we maybe need to start letting go of our bitterness.  Verse 32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  How many of us forgive others like we are forgiven?  How many of us speak complete truth about our neighbors?  How many of us allow unwholesome talk to flow from our mouths?  We are fall short but the point is that we are created to be great.  It will take some work but there is someone who wants that for you.  He is willing to do whatever it takes to help you get there if you allow Him to help.  

God created us to be whole.  For far too long Christians have looked at this life with a “glass half empty” attitude.  The Church has told us that we are broken and we need to be fixed.  We have been told that we need to manage our sin in order to be closer to God.  We were not created broken nor is “sin management” what God has called us towards.  The Creator God we worship created us in His likeness which means we are capable of forgiveness, compassion, reconciliation and love.  We do not have to be defined by our bitterness, rage and anger. Instead we should be defined by our forgiveness and compassion.  Many people will tell us that we cannot live life that way because we will become too passive.  It is impossible to live that way because not everyone has the ambitions to live that way.  Both of those statements may be true.  Look at what ISIS is doing and look at what is happening to the secular bloggers in Bangladesh.  Not to mention all of the other evil that exists in our world.  More than 200 mass killings in the US since 2006.  The evil, heartbreak and sadness can consume you.  Thankfully, there are people out there willing to risk their lives in order for me to live mine.  For those people, I am incredibly thankful.  Those are the people God has called to protect so we can help others see just how much God loves.  God has called us to be who we are and that is no accident.  God has called soldiers to protect.  He has called me to share.  He has called others to mission work, others to music, and still others to teaching.  Evil exists but the moment that we think love, forgiveness and compassion cannot conquer it, then it has won.  Ephesians 5:2 “...walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

 In closing, I do not care what age you are, it is not too late to get rid of the anger, malice, rage and bitterness that may define you.  It is not too late to quit managing your sin and start living for Christ.  When we start living for God, truly living for Him, it will change you.  I cannot say it enough, someone cannot come into contact with God without being changed by the grace and love they encounter.  God’s love and presence changes us.  It gives us strength to conquer things we didn’t think we could.  It makes a four year old think his uncle is the coolest man on the planet because he takes chips in the combine.  It allows us to laugh, cry, share and grow together.  It makes us want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.  It can and will conquer evil.  God’s love and grace makes us see the world, and the people in it, differently “for we are all members of one body.”  The moment, the exact moment that we start seeing others for whom God created them to be will change the world.  And that same power, the power to change the world, lies within you.  Amen.