In a humble spirit receive and welcome the Word of the Lord which implanted and rooted in your heart contains the power to save your soul. Be a doer of the Word and not merely a listener to it, betraying yourself into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth (James 1:21,22). For the fruit of the Spirit (the work which God's Presence within you accomplishes) is love, joy, peace, patience (an even temper), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (humility), and self-control. And those who belong to Christ Jesus, have crucified the flesh with its passions and appetites and desires (Galatians 5:23,24).
Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace to those who hear it. And, do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed (branded as God's own, marked) for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, temper) and resentment (anger) and quarreling (contention) and slander (evil-speaking) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will). And become useful and kind to others, tenderhearted, forgiving others as Christ forgave you.
Therefore, be an imitator of God, as a well-behaved child imitates her father. And, walk in love, esteeming and delighting in others as Christ loved you and gave Himself up for you, a slain offering and sacrifice to God for you, so that it became a sweet fragrance (Ephesians 4:29-5:2). Love your enemies and be kind and do good and lend, expecting and hoping for nothing in return but considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one, and then your reward will be great, and you will be a daughter of the Most High, for He is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and wicked. So be merciful even as your Father is (Luke 6:35-36).
For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days keep his tongue from evil and his lips from guile (treachery,deceit). Turn away from wickedness and shun it and do right. Search for peace (harmony; undisturbed from fears, agitating passions and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him), and His ears are attentive to their prayer (I Peter 3:10-12).
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