Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted. Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4 v 31-32 29 (MSG)
Comment
God’s Spirit lives and breathes in us. God is love therefore LOVE lives and breathes in us. IF WE DO NOT DROWN HIM OUT!
We usually think of “intimacy” in the context of sex, but here Paul says the presence of the Holy Spirit is the “most intimate part of your life making you fit for God Himself” God’s Love transforms our innermost being if we do not shout him down.
Paul says we have to cut out foul and dirty language: it drowns out love. Cutting words, backbiting, disrespectful or blaspheming words – (swearing?) have the same effect.
Have we gradually allowed our inner lives to be polluted by unpleasant bickering, negativity or swearing? Paul says “Make a clean break” in order to allow God to influence our inner lives. When we agree together to deal with our negative words we are making space for God’s Love to take control bringing gentleness, sensitivity and forgiveness.
If the most intimate part of me is suffused with Love how will this affect our daily life together? Can we agree on some specific action?
Prayer (as a couple)
Lord God we are sorry for drowning LOVE out with unpleasantness. We want to cut out the bad habits we have allowed to creep in. Holy Spirit, help us to take action. We want to give you room in the most intimate core of our personalities. We pray that we may be transformed by the presence of LOVE in our hearts and our home Amen
Prayer (for others)
Lord God we pray for everyone close to us – in our home and family – where we work and our friends. May they be blessed by your love reaching out to them through us. Teach us how to be silent when we need to restrain negativity. Amen
Final quote
The Fruit of the Spirit is … self-control. Galatians 5 v 22
