S. O. A. P.

Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!

S-cripture:

Ephesians 5:4

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

O-bservation:

St. Paul, in addressing the young church at Ephesus, laid down what we would refer to as “Standard Operating Procedures” for “Followers of Jesus.” Part of Paul’s SOP had to do with language. He said that all coarse or foul language was “Out Of Place” for “Christ Followers” and should be replaced immediately with words of Thanksgiving.

A-pplication:

I can’t tell you how many times as a young boy my father would say, “Rich, that is ‘Out of Place.’ Let’s don’t do that or say that again.” Then he would give me a more appropriate action to take or word to speak in its place. What the Apostle Paul let Christians know early on was that there is some language that is inappropriate for “Jesus Followers” to use. But instead of ending it there he said, “Instead of speaking in a profane or obscene or coarse way, replace that verbiage with words of Thanksgiving.” I have found that Thanksgiving always awakens people to a higher plane of thinking. It also lets them know that you appreciate them in that moment. Immediately upon your act of gratitude, you move from being just “A PART” of the crowd to being the “INFLUENCER” of the crowd. And in an instant no one is “Out Of Place” any longer.

P-rayer:

Dear Jesus,

Help me take the lead today in any and all of the conversations I may have by “ELEVATING” the thinking of my friends. Amen