29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come...

29 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. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  (NIV)

24.What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.

     26–27     Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.

     28     Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work.

     29     Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

     30     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.

     31–32     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. (Message)

Eph 4:32

I.          Be Kind

God is kind

II.        Be Tenderhearted

 Tender, Loving Care

According to a British doctor, unloved babies do not grow normally. At an international conference of family doctors held in Toronto, Dr. G. C. Jenkins said nurses caring for unloved babies are taught to look at them and talk to them until the babies fix their eyes on the nurses’ faces. When the babies become aware of the nurses’ faces, they will start to gain weight and grow.

One reason unloved babies do not grow normally could be the effect their unhappiness has on the digestive system. Dr. Jenkins said that a happy baby’s stomach is producing the hydrochloric acid necessary for digestion, whereas the acid production is shut off if somebody upsets the baby.

—Prairie Overcomer

III.       Be Forgiving