Walk Worthy
Let me preface this conversation with a confession: I have not been successfully “taking every thought captive” lately (2 Corinthians 10:5). Some of my words have been the opposite of wholesome talk, useful for building up (Ephesians 4:29).
This week, my daughter had ballet every day for the summer session at Christ in the Arts. While I enjoy this program and everything it offers, we had to start the day earlier to drive the 53 miles to the studio and be on time for the 9:00 start time. My daughter is not a morning person and she comes by it naturally. I’ve had to teach myself to be a morning person. The early start lends itself to fussing and grouchy attitudes. We started the car ride every morning with a prayer and the daily Bible reading. Sometimes we had to listen to a song taken directly from Scripture after the reading.
On Tuesday morning, the reading started with Ephesians chapter four. “As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, and with diligence to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3). I said “OUCH!” out loud.
The Bible doesn’t only tell us WHAT to do. It tells us exactly HOW to do it and the result of doing it! Walk worthy, with humility gentleness, patience, love, and diligence. This preserves unity and peace. Again… OUCH. As I meditated on walking worthy and attempted to take my thoughts captive and stop unwholesome talk (unuseful, negative, hurtful, contrary, rebellious, obstinate – not necessarily profane or even untrue) another verse came to mind: Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6). For the Christian, being salty is pleasant and gracious, to attract others to Christ. In contrast to the urban dictionary definition of a sarcastic, rude, or overly critical person, the Salty Christian is gentle, kind, and patient.
The best way to manage any temptation is to stay in The Word. I can readily call these Scriptures to mind because I study. I diligently work to apply The Word and improve because there is no other way to draw closer to the Father.