We all know we aren’t perfect. 😮 (Right? 💁🏻♀️ I mean, we do KNOW that no matter how much we strive for perfection, we aren’t quite there yet, hmm?)
Even when we, in our flesh, work SO hard at “being righteous” (that’s ‘being in right standing with God’) scripture tells us OuR righteousness is as filthy rags, yeah?
We strive to be “good” in our own ability, may hear comments from different directions, but we can’t get all bent out of shape about it —
“Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth who does good and never sins. [Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:23.] Do not give heed to everything that is said, lest you hear your servant cursing you– For often your own heart knows that you have likewise cursed others. All this have I tried and proved by wisdom. I said, I will be wise [independently of God]–but it was far from me. That which is is far off, and that which is deep is very deep–who can find it out [true wisdom independent of the fear of God]? [Job 28:12-28; I Cor. 2:9-16.]”
Ecclesiastes 7:20-24 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/ecc.7.20-24.AMPC
Let’s face it. We can’t be ‘righteous’ OR wise independently of God. (And why in the world would we ever try it??) Why chase after or seek wisdom in our own strength? Why chase after or strive for being in right standing WITH God if we don’t LEAN ON HIM for understanding of HOW to be in right standing with HIM?
We are on the receiving end of strife and get in a huff wanting to grab the tweezers and go after the splinter in our fellows eye — yet we tend to speak contentiously to others when they’ve offend us.
Hello! Can we not see for the mote in our own eye?
Where is the Love of the One who dwells in us?
“The mouth of the [uncompromisingly] righteous man is a well of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up contentions, but love covers all transgressions. On the lips of him who has discernment skillful and godly Wisdom is found, but discipline and the rod are for the back of him who is without sense and understanding. Wise men store up knowledge [in mind and heart], but the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.”
Proverbs 10:11-14 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/pro.10.11-14.AMPC
Love covers a multitude of sins (offenses).
Love does. God is love. And we are to portray God’s love to all!
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. [Matt. 12:37.]”
Proverbs 18:21 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/pro.18.21.AMPC
We are filled with God’s Spirit and all have creative Word in our mouth. I mean, after all, it was God that SPOKE this world 🌎 into existence.
His Spirit dwells in us. All power is given to us.
“But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets, Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction, Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.”
Romans 3:21-25 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/rom.3.21-25.AMPC
😏 Yeah. We’ve all sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows (and receives). Yet — we are all JUSTIFIED [(just) as (if)(I’d) never sinned] and made upright and in right standing with God FREELY and graciously through the blood-sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross! 🙌🏻
“Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:29-32 AMPC
https://bible.com/bible/8/eph.4.31.AMPC
Walking by His redeeming Grace, we need to guard our hearts ❤️(and mouths 👄 ) from bitterness and strife, unwholesome or worthless talk. We must be careful not to grieve the Heart of God with our bitterness, indignation, wrath, rage, temper, resentment, animosity, anger, quarreling, slander, or abusive language.
❌ That needs to be BaNiShEd from us, as well as any spite, ill-will or malice. ❌
I mean, it can’t live in us where the Spirit of God dwells!!
❤️ Christ empowers us to be kind, helpful, useful, tender hearted, compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted with the ability to FORGIVE as God has forgiven us.
Banish the enemy.
Kick🦵🏼out anything that is not of God.
Uproot the anger. Bring it to God, and leave it there!
♡pw
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