Wednesday, June 7th, 2017

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out if your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." -- Ephesians 4:29 NIV

The top stories on all the major news sites today can be summed up fairly well with one word: gossip. Whether it is speculation on James Comey's upcoming Senate hearing, continued commentary on the status of President Trump's tax return and Russia investigation, or even drama between the Mayor of London and President Trump, all of it seems to be decidedly unconstructive. With no new enlightening additions to any of these stores, we are left with gossip to stew on throughout the day. On the subject of gossip, the Bible tells us in Ephesians to speak only what is helpful for building others up. On the surface, this sounds like a call for love and kindness, which it absolutely is. However, love has many forms, and one of the strongest is what many call "tough love." In building our brothers and sisters up, sternness, constructive criticism, and even well-placed rebuke can be warranted -- so long as it builds that person up or sets them on the right path towards success. We all must be careful with our words, and even when debating each other, always speak from a place of love. Today, consider how you can build a brother or sister up through your words, and then reach out to them.