1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” Our hidden sin affects those around us. Case in point is Hebrews 12:15. One with bitter roots defiles those around them. 

Hidden sin is disobedience. In memorizing Romans 5, I realize afresh how Adam and Eve’s disobedience affected everyone born after them. Cain disobeyed: wrong sacrifice, killed his brother, then lied to God. Genesis 4:7 says, “…sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 says that our temptations are the same as everyone else, and God makes the way of escape. We have no excuse. Romans 6:1 says, “…How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” At salvation we were freed from the bondage of sin. Hidden sin ~ enslaved to the idol in our heart.

Think about these contrasts with wisdom from above versus man’s opinion. James 3:18. Pure/defiled, peaceable/contentious, gentle/harsh, willing to yield/demands own rights, full of mercy/cruel, good fruits/no fruit, without partiality/prejudice, without hypocrisy/insincere.

Our flesh is silenced when we walk in wisdom from above. It is like a fish out of water. It has no ‘fins’ to swim in the waters of purity, peace, gentleness, etc. Walking in wisdom from above is love in action.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 recapped: does not envy, is not puffed up, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily provoked, has no evil thoughts. No partiality goes beyond race. It could include folks who are obnoxious, rude, unkind, weaker, or just different than we are. Jesus was not a respecter of persons. When we emulate Him, we will include all types of folks ~ expressing His gospel message through our words, actions, attitude, and body language.

James 3:13 says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” Conduct is our manner of life. It is our default.

1 Peter 1:15 says to be holy in our conduct. Verse 17 says, “…conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.” What do we know about the fear of the Lord? It is the beginning of wisdom.

Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ…that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” The question we have to ask: is my life a gospel sermon? Does my marriage, my family, my interactions depict the gospel?

When our default is the gospel, then when the Holy Spirit convicts us, we will auto-correct. Our conduct starts with our thoughts and then becomes our action or behavior that others witness.

How do we curse ourselves or others? Words that are derogatory, critical, bitter, accusing, tearing down, speaking death words, frowning, rejection, etc. 

How do we bless ourselves or others? Affirming, encouraging, speaking truth in love, speaking Scripture, smiling, building up, comforting, etc. Life-giving words are gracious, wholesome, building up, and complimenting based on character.

2 Corinthians 5:16 says to not regard others according to the flesh. Verse 17 says that we are new creations in Christ, therefore our view of ourselves and others should line up with Scripture. Do you see yourself as He sees you? That is the key to freedom from self-hatred and self-rejection.

Seeing ourselves and others through the flesh blinds us from encouraging them to potential. We focus on their lack rather than God’s ability to save or regenerate. God alone is able to turn hearts. Our negative thoughts translate to negative body language that discourages rather than encourages.

The Holy Spirit showed me something that I never connected with before. James 1:8 says that the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Please read these verses with that in mind regarding our thoughts.

James 3:9-12 says, “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”

Everyone is made in the image of God. Through our thoughts first then words, we either bless or curse others as well as ourselves. It is either or in our secret dialogue in our minds.

Think of the word ruminate. The cow eats grass. Lies down, brings it back up and chews it again. Do you ruminate on things from your past? Our past is gone forever. We cannot go back to it physically. To bring it back up into our mind and rehearse it is futile activity that bears no fruit.

What bears fruit that glorifies the Lord? John 15:1-8 is about abiding in the Vine. It is in intimate communion that the Lord shares His heart and imparts revelational insights. I love His insights. They are fresh bread to us like manna was to the children of Israel ~ life-giving and sustaining.

When we ruminate on Scripture, we bring it into our heart. Then later it is there for us to think about. It becomes implanted and deeply rooted as we bring it in and out of our mind. James 1:21 says that the implanted word will save our soul.

Our thoughts impact and influence our conduct. Either our conduct pleases or displeases the Lord. Our thoughts become edible fruit that nourishes or poisons us and others. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…” Salt is a preservative. We want life-giving words to remain.

Words are launched from our thoughts. Philippians 4:8 is a list we can compare our thoughts to. Are your thoughts: true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of a good report? Proverbs 16:23 says, “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.”

1 Chronicles 28:9 Amplified says, “…For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts…” If you wonder how your thought life is affecting you, check out your health.

Proverbs 18:21 says that our tongue speaks death or life. Life-giving words come from speaking Scripture to ourselves and to others. Here are a few examples. ‘I am made in the image of God’ Genesis 1:26. ‘God’s hands have made and fashioned me’ Psalm 119:73. ‘I was chosen before time began’ Ephesians 1:4. 

Hearing God’s word increases faith. Romans 10:17. Faith affirmations conform our thoughts, purpose, and actions to God’s will and ways. It is the work of righteousness which brings peace, quietness, and assurance. Isaiah 32:17.

Speaking Scripture bridles our tongue to turn our lives. James 3:3  says, “Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey  us, and we turn their whole body.”