[Weekly Scripture] Psalm 51:1–2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each other.

How do you think most people feel after you share about your day or circumstances:  encouraged or dumped on?

Do you have an issue with inappropriate and negative words?

Pray for a thankful heart that expresses itself in uplifting words.

E-devotion by Gary Hughes (Elder)

Scholars and experts in communication study how people speak and communicate with one another through various means.  These folks like to describe what they have observed, and in doing so, they have listed several characteristics of communication that are common to all forms of expression whether oral or written.  One of those characteristics is that “Communication is irreversible.” For good or for bad, once the words have crossed ones lips, once the “Send” button has been clicked, or once the letter has been placed in the mail, one cannot take it back.  We may further explain what we meant, we may try to make amends, or we may even seek forgiveness, but the words will not return to our mouths, or our keyboard, or even our ink pen.  This presents a real problem for those who “speak their minds” without regard to whom might be hurt, for those who speak out of fear before they have considered the consequences, and for those whose language habitually includes vulgarities that offend those in earshot.

How quick Peter was to “rebuke” the Lord Jesus when He shared about how “He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day” (Matt. 16:21).  Just as quickly, when out of fear of the prospect of possible arrest or even loosing his life for knowing and following Jesus, Peter denied three times even knowing the Lord.  He even went so far on the third time to curse and swear while saying “I do not know the man!” It was at this point that the cock crowed and “Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before the cock crows, you will deny Me three times.”  And he went out and wept bitterly (Matt. 26:74-75).  It was at this point that Peter recognized that awful truth:  He said the very thing that he said he would never say, and he could not take it back.  What Jesus had said to Peter following his earlier rebuke of Him was true at this point as well: “…you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matt. 16:23).  Therein lies the source of our problem.  Our problem is not the irreversible nature of our communication.  It is that we do not set our minds on God’s interests and His will first and foremost.  This is one more result of our sinfulness as fallen mankind.

Fortunately, there is a remedy, and that is the grace and forgiveness found in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Upon receiving Him as Lord, our sin is blotted out and remembered no more (Isaiah 43:25).  Our standing before God the Father is made right as the righteousness of the Lord Jesus is placed upon us (2 Corinthians 5:21).  We are reconciled to God.  With regard to those we may have hurt, if they are in the Lord then reconciliation is available as we confess our sin toward them, ask forgiveness, and find forgiveness is granted (Matthew 18:22).  Finally, as a result of our placing our trust and lives in the Lord, He makes us new creatures as the old has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).  We must seek to allow the love of Christ to control us that we no longer view others through the eyes of this flesh (2 Corinthians 5:14 & 16), and that our minds are transformed (Romans 12:2 and Philippians 2:5-11).  When He is in control of ones mind and heart then what crosses the lips, what travels the Internet, and what is delivered by the postal carrier will build up our brothers and sisters in Christ and not tear them down.