September 14, 2026 – Daily Devotional
“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.” –Ephesians 4:29
This week, St. Luke’s began a new sermon series, “Three Simple Rules.” John Wesley offered these rules to Methodists to help them clearly understand how God’s love, found in our hearts, should show up in our actions. The rules are: Do No Harm, Do Good, and Stay in Love with God. Yesterday, we looked at the rule, Do No Harm.
As I thought about these simple rules, I could not help but think about how we speak to one another. Our words possess great power. With kind words, we can build one another up; with sharp, harsh words, we can just as easily tear each other down. Our words, spoken face to face or posted online, can either do great harm or good.
Do you remember your time in junior high/middle school? This is a fun yet difficult time in a student’s life. It is often a socially awkward time. I remember trying to find my place, and now, as a father, I watch my daughter navigate this challenging time. In junior high, students often wrestle with how to treat one another. Students can be harsh, often using mean words towards one another.
My 7th grade homeroom teacher understood the trials of junior high/middle school. She worked hard to keep her classroom a positive environment so her students could succeed. I remember one of her rules, all these years later. My homeroom had the 7up rule. If you said something mean or disrespectful to another student, you had to say seven positive statements in front of the class to build that student up (7up). It was an effective tool that reminded us how easy it is to hurt someone with our words and how much effort it takes to build someone up.
Being an adult is not as socially awkward as being a junior high student. However, one thing we often bring into adulthood is the ability to speak harsh words and hurt one another. Perhaps my 7th grade teacher’s lesson is a good reminder for us today. We should be committed to positive and edifying speech, “That it may impart grace to those who hear.” It is easy to speak negatively. However, if we are committed to doing no harm, I believe a good place to start is with our words. Let us speak kind and gracious words, bless others, and build one another up.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
