Scripture: Ephesians 4:31 (the Message)
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.
Thought for the Day: This morning, I will be preaching on these words from Ephesians 4. Actually, this translation is from what is known as the Message, a bit more contemporary and loose translation of the original text. Unlike most translations that were done by dozens and dozens of scholars who debated and argued over a number of years, the Message was translated by one person – Eugene Peterson. I find his translation often challenging, pushing a slightly different perspective on the passage. This is a good thing, though it is always important to remember that one person is one person. Even the best of translators will bring a bias to the work…even a large group of scholars will have some bias, but it is usually deluded a bit by the diversity of thought.
With all that said, I appreciate how Peterson uses the language of making a clean break. You and I both have probably used the language of, “I am still a work in progress.” I believe this and I hope to always view myself as a work in progress, but it can also be used as an excuse. If a person continues to yell and scream uncontrollably or say sarcastic and humiliating words toward another human being, the excuse – I am still a work in progress – really is not a viable option. There are times when we need a clean break and stop giving ourselves the excuse that we are a work in progress. Today, as you look at your life, what area are you needing a clean break? Where could a dramatic change – a 180 degree turn – be transformative to self and others?
Prayer: Merciful God, allow for your grace and forgiveness to spill over me. Allow these gifts to provide a doorway to real and lasting change. I don’t want to make an excuse that will become my excuse. I want to be a better person; I want to be a person who knows who to love; I want to be the person you believe I can be. Amen.
