The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good…” (Ephesians 4:29).

It happened quite suddenly. Though we had a few small warning signs, we honestly thought that we had a little more time left. When my wife Karen has chemotherapy treatment often for the next week she is very sick. Popsicles usually taste good to her. When I pulled them out of the freezer of our refrigerator they were no longer frozen. I opened the refrigerator, and there was a particular smell. Sure enough! Without us knowing it our refrigerator had quit working quite a while before we discovered it. I mean it really quit with no hopes of repair. Very quickly the spoiling of food began to take place. Guess what? This is the exact picture that Paul uses to describe the words of people who use foul language. The corrupt communication literally means “words that are rotten or spoiling.” Today I want to pray the prayer of Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” I want my words to be acceptable to the Lord. I believe this also has to do with my tone and volume in which I speak!

For today: May my words be clean because I not only know the Lord but also because I am walking with Him as well.

“Wherefore I also…cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16).

Paul the great Apostle was so thrilled with the wonderful progress of the Ephesian believers. They deeply trusted the Lord Jesus (1:15a) and loved each other (1:15b). Paul was delighted to pray for them and to ask God to continue to do great and mighty things in their lives. Prayer is a wonderful privilege. When you pray for someone, you enter a wonderful partnership with the Lord and that person. What a wonderful way to express your love and concern. Julie spoke to her friend, Tammy. Julie shared her concern about the difficult situation through which Tammy was traveling. As she sat across the table from her friend she told her, “Tammy, I wish there was something I could do to help. All I can do is pray.” Tammy smiled, got up from the table, came around to her longtime friend and hugged her as she said, “Julie! There is nothing greater that you could ever do than pray.” It’s the same with us, dear friends. While there may be something we can tangibly do, there is nothing better that we can actually do than pray.

For today: Take time to pray. Your Father will be pleased, and your friends will be blessed.

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).

The word “conversation” has to do with “one’s conduct or manner of living.” Paul beautifully reminds the Philippian believers that the way they live must match or be suitable to the claim of the gospel upon their lives. This word actually has a connection to living as a citizen should live. Philippi was a Roman colony. The believers at Philippi understood the privilege and responsibility that was theirs to represent well their citizenship. As believers, every day we represent our great God in our citizenship. In the way we act, talk, and even in our attitude, we are to live in a way becoming of citizens of Heaven.

For today: What a grand citizenship we hold. What a great God we represent.

“Wherefore I desire that you faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory” (Ephesians 3:13).

Paul makes an interesting statement to the Ephesian believers. He speaks of the troubles he endured and the hardships he experienced as he served the Lord. Whoever thinks that living for Christ is going to be easy in this wicked world is sadly mistaken. For Paul to serve Christ and fulfill the commission that the Lord Jesus gave to him would be costly indeed. Yet it was worth every bit of suffering and difficulty Paul encountered. He faithfully gave the gospel to these folks, and now he doesn’t want them to grow fainthearted because of his tribulation. You and I can have the same assurance in our hardships. We must not go looking for trouble. We must not live carelessly and bring unnecessary difficulties into our lives; however, as we live Godly lives that seek to bring honor to the Lord Jesus, we must never be surprised when difficulty comes. We can even live as did Paul who encouraged everyone around through his hardships.

For today: The Lord Jesus understands my hardships. That’s why He is there being my Heavenly Helper!

“He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25).

What a grand account of the blessing and intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ. While He did not prevent the king’s order to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fiery furnace, He did something even better. He was waiting in the fiery furnace for them! According to Daniel 3:21 the three Hebrew men were bound. Now they are loose, walking around and not injured in any way. Three were thrown in, but four were seen together in the midst of the fire. One of the great mysteries of life is the Sovereignty of the Lord. At times He mightily and miraculously delivers people from fiery trials. Other times He gives very special grace to the believer to go through the trial. The mystery comes from trying to understand God’s plan. Sometimes the believer is kept from the situation. Other times the believer is kept through the situation. Either way it is a wonderful blessing to belong to the Son of God. Whatever takes place in your life today, you can trust His hand to keep you and give you the grace you need.

For today: Whether “from” or “through” the trial, I want to trust Him. How about you?