Take out your trash
Have you ever forgotten to throw the garbage out before a big trip, only to return to a smelly house? I have, and it’s so disgusting. In the same sense, it’s important to get rid of all your emotional garbage or anything else that can become toxic. The Bible says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31, NKJV) That’s quite a list, isn’t it? It’s important for your emotional and spiritual health to get rid of the “Six Deadly Pieces of Trash.”
- Bitterness
- Anger
- Wrath
- Quarreling
- Slanderous talk
- Malice
Yikes! These six pieces of trash may sound so harmless. Social media and our cultures seem to welcome these emotional conditions. In fact, our society has become so harsh, without mercy, and full of false accusations.
Our church often hosts political and sports celebrities. We love to pray for people. We are a multicultural, multiracial, multilingual, and multi-party church. We want everyone in our city to feel welcomed in our church. We want to love people like Jesus loves and accept those others reject.
A recent guest was greeted with media animosity. The headlines read, “There were massive protests at a local school” (ours, of course). I hadn’t seen any protests, so I called the reporter to see where the massive protest took place. As I questioned him, the truth finally came out. There was only one protester online. In other words, the leader of this publication was lying in order to gain followers.
The world is getting more and more corrupt and dishonest, but I’m not. Taylor Swift sings a song that reflects the problem with our society: “the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate...but I’m gonna shake it off, shake it off...”
friend, I encourage you to live differently than the world does. Forgive, release, and love. Follow the lead of David the psalmist: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10, NKJV) Get rid of all the negative trash and be free to be a miracle. I love you more than a fresh burrito.
