Ephesians

I was reading Ephesians 4:29-30 along with O’Brien’s commentary a few weeks ago.

Ephesians 4:29-30 NIV (which O’Brien uses)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

O’Brien says:

The coordinating conjunction ‘and’ links this exhortation to the negative imperative of v. 29, so that the two clauses can be rendered: ‘let no unwholesome word come from your mouths . . . and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God’. This latter prohibition serves as a motivation for the preceding advice about speech … The Spirit, who is the divine agent of reconciliation and unity in the body (Eph 2:18, Eph 2:22, Eph 4:3-4), is especially grieved when unwholesome speech is uttered by member against one another.

As I am still breaking the habit of taking verses in isolation and linking these two together was extremely convicting. With tears, I stopped reading and thought about my own speech, including through the keyboard, especially “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”. This even applies to thoughts. I acknowledged my failures in this area and pray regularly that by His grace I will repent and over time learn how to communicate more gently. (See R-E-S-P-E-C-T, which I wrote shortly after God spoke to me about this.)

Since then I have had my little failures and today I was on the receiving end and got a taste of my own medicine. God in His sovereignty will use this to glorify Himself and conform us to His image.

Additionally, in rereading Ephesians last night I was marveling at God’s word and realizing how much I don’t know. And today I wonder if I should even be writing a public blog that others may be influenced by, if it’s worth the time and how much benefit there really is for me. With a readership of about 30-40 people I’m pretty much writing to myself anyway. (smiley would go here)