Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Does corrupt communication come from my mouth? What denotes corrupt communication? Perhaps it is anything that can't be used to edify a person, ministering grace to the hearers. If this is true, then I suppose a lot of what I speak is corrupt communication, doing no one any good. The tongue is a wicked thing, the Bible tells us so and I believe we all comprehend the truth of the matter. Who has not been hurt by the tongue at some point in their lives? Who hasn't been whipped bloody by the tongue? Who hasn't been stabbed through the heart, with the tongue? Is it any wonder we aren't to let corrupt communication come out of our mouths? That we need to be mindful of our words? Vain babblings, murmuring, gossiping, these are all indicative of ungodliness. We make excuses for them, I make excuses for them because it has become a way of life to complain, to despair, to seek sympathy, to want to hear soothing words, to receive pity, to cry out woe is me. How much easier it is to spout worst fears while hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, and yet in such behavior where is faith, where is hope?
The fiery furnace is burning so hot all around my life and it is exposing my many, many faults! The fire is burning away any pretense I've covered myself in and is revealing the horrors of my sins daily.
My outward man is clothed in filthy robes of unrighteousness and the fires are burning away the layers upon layers of fine robes I've donned to disguise the filth upon my flesh.
Corrupt communication- If you have nothing nice to say… say nothing at all. My mother's words, and I believe a lot of mother's have tried to teach these words to their children. Nothing nice to say… say nothing at all…. No corrupt communication is to come out of our mouths. When our mothers were trying to teach us to only speak nicely, they weren't trying to limit our speaking of our sadness, our worries, our pains, they were telling us not to hurt anyone with our words, not to say anything about anyone that we couldn't say in their presence, not to be evil in our speaking. But such wickedness has come from my mouth, I've hurt many with my wicked tongue. The words of corruption flow forth from me so naturally it's as if I'm trying to turn the tide when I attempt to keep from spewing forth vain babbling, murmurings, corruption, wickedness, gossip, and so on and so forth.
I CRY OUT… KEEP THE DOOR TO MY LIPS, LORD! I can't seem to keep it myself at all.
You've revealed my corrupt communication to me by burning away the many layers of finely spun silky justifications I've made to excuse it, that which I've tried to hide my sins in, and now they're exposed and I fall at Your feet….
Forgive me, please, forgive me, FORGIVE ME! I cry out! FORGIVE ME!
(Excerpt)
EXPOSITION OF MATTHEW XXIV 24 (((Written in 1890 - remember that when reading- 131 years have passed since this was written. History does matter.))))
VERSE 12: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
It is evident that both the abounding of iniquity and the waxing cold of the love of many, are fulfilled in the professed church of Jesus Christ. Men must first experience the love of God and of heavenly things before that love can grow cold.
Hence, common, unconverted sinners are not here referred to as apostatizing. And, again, the prevalence of iniquity in the unconverted world alone, should stimulate the church to greater
diligence and more godliness, instead of being a cause of apostasy. Hence, the iniquity here mentioned is in the very heart of the professed church, diffusing its chilling influence through the whole body. As the result, the love of many has grown cold. With this agree the words of the apostle:–
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
Here is a catalogue of eighteen sins, all resting upon those who have a form of godliness. These are not infidels and common worldly sinners, for they have not a form of godliness; but they are men and women professing to be followers of Jesus Christ. And although they make a profession of piety as high as heaven, these very sins lie at their doors. And by reason of their example, and their chilling influence, many are led from the humble path to heaven, and their love waxes cold.' (End Excerpt)
