MIND YOUR LANGUAGE
TEXT:
" Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians chapter 4 verse 6, King James Version)
Your speech oftentimes tells who you are and what lies on the inside of you; "...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh ", the Lord Jesus said in Matthew chapter 12 verse 34. It's possible to tell the direction of a man's life through his utterances! As a child of God, you are expected to represent His Kingdom here on earth. Your speech serves to communicate with others who you are, what you believe in, what you represent, your destination, etc. As a result therefore, care must be taken to put much thought and consideration on what we say, how we say it, when we say it and where we say what!
What does it mean to let our speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt? It simply means to let our discourse be as it becomes Christians; be savory, incorruptible, suitable to our calling, with an air of piety found in it. Besides, this becomes necessary as custodians of the Gospel the defense of which we are regularly called to do. It's in the course of this defense "that you may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Colossians chapter 4 verse 6). We need to be aware that as Christians, we are called and admonished to be ready to the defense of the faith ("But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" - 1st Peter chapter 3 verse 15); while keeping in mind always that one answer is proper for one man and another for another man ("Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit." - Proverbs chapter 26 verses 4 to 5)
At all times, let your speech and your entire life serve to exemplify and recommend Christianity. Let it not only be holy, but wise, gracious and intelligent. A harsh way, eg, of proposing or defending the faith only serves to repel men from the Way of salvation. Let's be careful about our language!
PRAYER
Dearest Heavenly Father, I'm grateful to you for grace to represent you and your Kingdom in a manner acceptable to you and in furtherance of the Truth of the Gospel, in Jesus name.