Prayer – Lord God, once again I ask for forgiveness for my coveting desires. Like my uncle, what is mine is mine…and what is yours is mine—ha! I don’t really feel that way—but I would like a trim body and an organized home. I really desire those in my life and see that sometimes I’m putting those things before Christ. Is that evil or greedy? I don’t want to anger You, God. Give me a new nature and renew my heart and mind that I would be pleasing to You.
So
put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do
with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for
a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of
these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your
life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger,
rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other,
for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put
on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become
like him. In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile,
circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ
is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Colossians 3:5-11 (Underlined for
emphasis.)
Don't let your tongue get you into trouble.
Greedy baby alligator.
Bee City in Cottageville, South Carolina
Meditate.
Consider God’s instructions in scripture.
Do you
have any “evil” desires in your life? Paul told the church at Colossi…and us…that
now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and
dirty language. I am appalled at the language we hear on TV shows…and even
political ads! Can’t people clean up their tongues? I’ve been told that that is
just the way life is—but personally, I don’t have to listen to it and definitely
don’t have to include foul language in my vocabulary. It is hard. Input—output!
Guard your tongue.
A psalm of David. I said to myself,
"I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue
when the ungodly are around me." But as I stood there in silence—not even
speaking of good things—the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought
about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words: "LORD, remind me how
brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting
my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My
entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a
breath." Psalm
39:1-5
David was
wise about watching what he was saying. Good example for us. The book of James
in the New Testament gives us additional guidance on the use of our tongues
(see James 3:5-10) and then goes on to consider tributes of wisdom and value of
being a peacemaker.
If you are wise and understand
God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the
humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is
selfish ambition in your heart, don't cover up the truth with boasting and
lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things
are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and
selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the
wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all
times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It
shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will
plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18
God wants
to know us and wants us to be like Him—kind, loving, helpful, compassionate, holy, forgiving. That would be our new nature. Put on your new nature, and be
renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Otherwise,
watch out. As Paul tells us… the anger of God is coming. Good
challenge. Will you choose to take that challenge today to be renewed or not?
Verse
of Salvation ~ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that
comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life,
which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your
thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous
and holy. Ephesians
4:21-24
© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All
rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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