1 Corinthians 13:5 says, "[Love] It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured." (AMP)
Love is not rude.
According to the dictionary, "rude" is described as, "offensively impolite or ill-mannered." Synonyms of 'rude' are: bad-mannered, impolite, discourteous, uncivil, ill-behaved, mannerless. (Civil also means courteous and polite-- pleasant, gentlemanly, ladylike, chivalrous.)
Love is not offensive, impolite, ill-mannered, unpleasant, discourteous, or mannerless.
While studying about being rude, Romans chapter 1 became a common thread.
In this chapter, Paul discusses how the people in Rome knew who the One True God is, but they decided to follow their own wants and needs as opposed to what He wanted from their lives. They were consumed with vain thoughts, they followed the lust of their own hearts--- and so God allowed it. Paul writes, "Their days were filled with Godless living..." which included: wicked schemes, greed, hatred, endless desire for more and more, murder, violence, deceit, spitefulness, gossip, slander, God-hating, egotism, treating each other horribly-- and guess what else is listed here? Being rude. God equated violence and murder with being rude. Paul defned all of these as 'godless living.'
Jesus, help our spirits to shine Your light and not the ways of our human flesh.
When we are arguing with someone (especially our spouse), it is our human nature to defend ourselves. We get angry and we allow terrible things to spew from our mouth. We tear down... we offend... we lose track of the love we have for the other person.
And most of the time, it's because of a small, petty thing.
God has called us to have courteous, pleasant spirits- not offensive spirits.
Proverbs 13:3 says, "Those who guard their speech insure they will take another breath, but those who talk without thinking guarantee their demise." (Voice)
Proverbs 21:23 says, "Guard your words, mind what you say, and you will keep yourself out of trouble." (Voice)
It is vital that we guard our mouths from speaking rude, impolite words. We must learn to think before we speak. Think about how many arguments could have been avoided if we would have just kept our mouths shut-- or how many arguments could have been short and peaceful had we spoke with a civil, courteous attitude.
A lot of times the argument alone is not what offends people-- it is the words we speak and the way in which we speak them.
Today, lets bind together and pray for our hearts.
Luke 6:45 says, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (KJV)
Out of your heart, the mouth speaks.
Our first step today in having a pleasant spirit is interceding over our heart. Asking God to heal the hurt that has damaged it. Asking God to soften our spirits. Asking God to remove any bitterness or spite. Asking God to help us think before speaking. Asking God to help us understand how our words can kill someone spiritually.
Proverbs 18:21 says, "Words have power in matters of life and death, and those who love them will savor their fruit." (Voice)
If we only understood the power in our words. I read a quote once that said, "Words are powerful. God didn't think creation into existence. HE SPOKE IT." (I seriously get cold chills every time I read that!) But it is the truth. We have power in our words-- power to change someone's life for the good or the bad. We have the power to bring peace to an argument or continually escalate it. WE have that power.
We can choose to speak with an unpleasant spirit today--
or we can ask God to heal our souls and give us a happy, enjoyable spirit.
The choice is up to us.
How we do we want to treat our spouse today? How do we want to love others? Do we want to do it with a rude, arrogant spirit? or do we want to do it with a polite, loving spirit?
Love is not rude.
According to the dictionary, "rude" is described as, "offensively impolite or ill-mannered." Synonyms of 'rude' are: bad-mannered, impolite, discourteous, uncivil, ill-behaved, mannerless. (Civil also means courteous and polite-- pleasant, gentlemanly, ladylike, chivalrous.)
Love is not offensive, impolite, ill-mannered, unpleasant, discourteous, or mannerless.
While studying about being rude, Romans chapter 1 became a common thread.
In this chapter, Paul discusses how the people in Rome knew who the One True God is, but they decided to follow their own wants and needs as opposed to what He wanted from their lives. They were consumed with vain thoughts, they followed the lust of their own hearts--- and so God allowed it. Paul writes, "Their days were filled with Godless living..." which included: wicked schemes, greed, hatred, endless desire for more and more, murder, violence, deceit, spitefulness, gossip, slander, God-hating, egotism, treating each other horribly-- and guess what else is listed here? Being rude. God equated violence and murder with being rude. Paul defned all of these as 'godless living.'
Jesus, help our spirits to shine Your light and not the ways of our human flesh.
When we are arguing with someone (especially our spouse), it is our human nature to defend ourselves. We get angry and we allow terrible things to spew from our mouth. We tear down... we offend... we lose track of the love we have for the other person.
And most of the time, it's because of a small, petty thing.
God has called us to have courteous, pleasant spirits- not offensive spirits.
Proverbs 13:3 says, "Those who guard their speech insure they will take another breath, but those who talk without thinking guarantee their demise." (Voice)
Proverbs 21:23 says, "Guard your words, mind what you say, and you will keep yourself out of trouble." (Voice)
It is vital that we guard our mouths from speaking rude, impolite words. We must learn to think before we speak. Think about how many arguments could have been avoided if we would have just kept our mouths shut-- or how many arguments could have been short and peaceful had we spoke with a civil, courteous attitude.
A lot of times the argument alone is not what offends people-- it is the words we speak and the way in which we speak them.
Today, lets bind together and pray for our hearts.
Luke 6:45 says, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (KJV)
Out of your heart, the mouth speaks.
Our first step today in having a pleasant spirit is interceding over our heart. Asking God to heal the hurt that has damaged it. Asking God to soften our spirits. Asking God to remove any bitterness or spite. Asking God to help us think before speaking. Asking God to help us understand how our words can kill someone spiritually.
Proverbs 18:21 says, "Words have power in matters of life and death, and those who love them will savor their fruit." (Voice)
If we only understood the power in our words. I read a quote once that said, "Words are powerful. God didn't think creation into existence. HE SPOKE IT." (I seriously get cold chills every time I read that!) But it is the truth. We have power in our words-- power to change someone's life for the good or the bad. We have the power to bring peace to an argument or continually escalate it. WE have that power.
We can choose to speak with an unpleasant spirit today--
or we can ask God to heal our souls and give us a happy, enjoyable spirit.
The choice is up to us.
How we do we want to treat our spouse today? How do we want to love others? Do we want to do it with a rude, arrogant spirit? or do we want to do it with a polite, loving spirit?
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