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So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 4:25-5:2)
God is good, dear Friend! "All the time!" you might want to reply; and it's true. I trust this finds you well. I am happy to report your prayers for Mr. Bob Clark and Mrs. Charlotte Wilson were answered in positive ways. For Bob, his surgery went well. It was a long, difficult surgery of removing a tumor and a bone, and rebuilding and all went well. Bob is resting and starting his recovery in Houston. Charlotte's surgery was postponed as the hospital she was in believed it was better for her to be in a heart specialty hospital and so she was moved to the Texan Hospital in San Antonio. We continue to pray that her surgery do what needs to be done and that she be the better for it!
Dear one, no matter your age, it is never too late to start a new and better life. Never too late. The writer of today's passage speaks that truth with his words. He begins with what many find so easy to do, and that is not saying the truth. We sometimes try to cover up a mistake or a sin and we share a lie. No more. Speak the truth to everyone, for as Christians we are one in the Lord. We can get angry, but not to the point of sinning against one another. The verse that says, "Do not let the sun god own on your anger, and do not make room for the devil," is one that I've used when counseling couples. It becomes easy to say to oneself or to our spouse, "I'm sleeping on the couch!" And off we go. And if we are successful and spend the night apart from our loved one, another night might be easier, as would another, until we think, it's easier to live without this person! And what we have done is simply opened the door for the devil to come in and make us think that. It doesn't take much for the devil to shove open a door when all we wanted was a peek out.
Thieves should stop stealing; and find ways to make ends meet with honest work. Even to the point of making enough to share with the needy. Our voices should be used to share positive, build-each-other-up kind of talk; and do not live a life that makes the Holy Spirit frustrated with our behavior or words or thoughts. The Holy Spirit can seal us for good, which is what we should ask. We should rid our lives of the "old stuff" that has made us not what we wanted to be: bitter, wrathful, angry people who sought to slander and cheat one another; our call is to be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving people just like God in Christ Jesus has forgiven us. Make God be the model of our behavior. Live a life that imitates Christ Jesus; that will draw others to Jesus themselves.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me my old ways, and help me rid my life of things that marked me as bad. Remove all the negative and fill me with the good, positive things. Make me live as Jesus in a way that draws others to us. This I pray in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Show your tender-hearted self out to others today!
Eradio Valverde
