Soul Windows

Let all bitterness and wrath
and anger and clamor and
slander be put away from you.

Ephesians 4:31

Eyes are the windows to the soul. Whether one likes it or not, what lives in the depths is revealed. The next time you sit in an airport or wherever a large “study” of people is available look at their eyes, you may be shocked at what you see. In my own observations I’ve seen plenty of fearful eyes, bitter eyes, empty eyes, angry eyes. In between there have been those eyes whose deep pools have brought me refreshment.

Whatever we’ve set up house for in our souls, whether anger or bitterness, peace or joy, will ultimately find its way out the door of our eyes as well as our mouths. God created us as a living being whose physical, emotional and spiritual lives is intricately connected. It is impossible to keep hidden whatever we take in on a regular basis. It’s like overeating! Eventually we don’t need the scale because the results are evident in the mirror.

While Jesus was surrounded by Pharisees angry about how he was upsetting their traditions he never succumbed, even to the point of his death, to their soul dwellers. Here in Ephesians Paul reminds us of this truth. To be a follower of Jesus we have to evict from our souls those emotions that make our eyes and mouths distasteful to see and hear.

Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander abound today even among Christians. But, as Jesus followers, we can’t succumb to these. We have the message of the Kingdom! A “world” difference will come about when that Message is the only resident in our souls. Then our eyes will shine!

Jesus, forgive me for allowing
anger, bitterness, anxiousness
and slander to set up residences.
You brought the message of the Kingdom--
bringing joy, promise, hope and love.
Help me to evict the others and move
in only your Kingdom message.
Amen.