With so many folks all around listening and believing so many toxic ideas and untruths, it can seem like the world is just heading to the bad place. But, what if it is me that stretches my itching ears?

Those hurtful empty words only bring hurt and harm. They are only shouted to puff up and look important. But we see the words of the Creator bring about physical life and grace to the whole creation.

Backed up against the wall seeming no other way out, it's tempting to cut corners, to make the task easier, to get to the goal faster. But Paul is encouraging us to remember the faith we have been entrusted with, to follow it though and not cut corners.