Ephesians 4:25-5:2 NKJV
Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor” (Zechariah 8:16), for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin” (Psalm 4:4): do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.


Heavenly Father,
You have made it clear to us that you care deeply about how we treat other people.
“Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” you said through Zechariah.
“You must not commit adultery,” “You must not steal,” “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor,” and “You must not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor,” you said through Moses (Exodus 20).
You drove the point home to our hearts when you spoke through the apostle Paul: “The whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14).
Help us, Father; this is beyond our innate ability to do. We want to be like you in your love for your children by spiritual birth and all people as your created image bearers. As Jesus’ life was a “sweet-smelling aroma” of worship to you, may your Holy Spirit enable ours to be the same.
Amen.


I Then Shall Live
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