SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 6/8/2017 9:46 PM
My Worship Time Focus: “The Speech
of Perfection”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Colossians
4:6
Message of the verses: “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
We spoke about the consistency of life in our last SD,
and this is followed up by consistency of speech, which the consistency of life
should bring about. Not saying that any
of this is easy. We have the best
example to follow, that of Jesus Christ and according to Luke 4:22 “And all
were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His
lips; and they were saying, "Is this not Joseph’s son?"” We see that
Jesus spoke with grace, and He is our example.
I have mentioned in different SD’s that before I became a
believer in Jesus Christ my speech was very bad, saying things with many curse
words in my speech. God changed my heart
and my mouth and I do not swear anymore because God cleaned up my speech. My speech is not perfect by any means but
that part of it has been taken care of by the Lord.
MacArthur writes “Whether undergoing persecution, stress, difficulty, or injustice, whether with your spouse, children, believers, or unbelievers—in all circumstances believers are to make gracious speech a habit. To speak with grace means to say what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complementary, gentle, truthful, loving, and thoughtful.” Let us look at Ephesians 4:29 “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
What does it mean that the speech of the new man is “seasoned
with salt?” “Believers’ speech should
act as a purifying influence, rescuing conversation from the filth that so
often engulfs it. Salt also adds flavor,
and the speech of the new man should add charm and wit to conversation.”
As a believer we should know how to respond to each
person as this verse tells us. One thing
for sure we should know how to tell others of the hope that is in us, that is
the saving faith we received from our Lord when He saved us.
MacArthur concludes this 15th chapter in his commentary by writing “The speech of the new man is vitally important: ‘If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well’ (James 3:2). Unlike the ungodly, who say ‘Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?” (Ps. 12:4), we as believers should echo the prayer of the psalmist in Psalm 141:3: ‘Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.’”
6/8/2017 10:07 PM
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