The Lord God has given me
the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
he awakens my ear
to hear as those who are taught.
Isaiah 50:4

The closer Jerry and I come to the riverside, the more vivid the other side is becoming. What is behind is fading away, holding less of our interest. And we desire with grateful hearts for others to see what we see.

In the last twenty-seven years, I have been saving in notebooks and file boxes treasures the Lord has given me. Before I started to publish books written over the years, I had no special need to edit. Since beginning to publish three years ago, I want to make clear what the Lord has given .

The kingdom of our Father is too great for me to minimize, so I pray and desire that His glory be expressed as best as I can by the power of His Holy Spirit.

The grace of our Lord is so precious that I cannot present it apart from His Holy presence in the text.

His love is so needed by His children that I dare not paint a false picture with the brush of my own thoughts.

Editing is not only necessary for publishing books, but a great need in everything we write, in everything we say, and in everything we do. Editing is not just something we do ~ as much as we attempt ~ but it requires another editor to correct what we cannot see in our own writing, speaking, and living.

I have other editors but my trust is in the Holy Spirit ~ editor and  guide ~proofing everything by His Holy Word.

The Lord continues to teach me that I am proclaiming His kingdom of righteousness and grace for His glory. His purpose for giving me the truths and gifts of His Spirit and Word are to edify His people.

Our books are primarily an archive for future generations but we are making them available for His people everywhere, hoping that those who are distressed in this generation may receive a word of encouragement and edification even as we are being taught and edified through His Word and His church ~ passing on any profits to missions and charity.

Writing this post has impressed upon my heart the importance for God’s people to speak the truth in love wherever we are. We need to edit as much as we can while praying for the Holy Spirit to work in us to discern if our thoughts are aligned with His.

Is our speaking and writing for the purpose of edification? All we do should be for the building up of His people ~ His body ~ His church. In the following references, we see the meaning and importance of edification.

Ephesians 4:29 relates to our personal speech so as to edify those who hear us.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

These relate to what is being taught.

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1 Timothy 1:4

Paul writes to the Romans and the Thessalonians of edifying one another.

Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. Romans 15:2

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The following are in reference to spiritual gifts; that they should be to the edifying and comfort of the members of the church.

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1 Corinthians 14:3

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12

Paul writes of his relationship to the Corinthian church.

For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 2 Corinthians 10:8

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 1 Corinthians 10:23

Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
2 Corinthians 12:19

Paul writes to the Ephesians of the edifying of the whole body of Christ.

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Ephesians 4;12

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16

Gracious Father, thank you for revealing the brightness of your glory through your Son, Jesus Christ. By your Holy Spirit, take away those things of our own thoughts so that nothing stands in the way of your truth. So encourage our hearts that we only speak what edifies your people. Let the light of Christ shine through us to reveal your love and grace ~ for your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Fran