What will you say today?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Live like it’s true”

Our Bible verse for today: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “What will you say today?”

Let’s continue our thinking from yesterday regarding Paul’s teaching from Colossians 3:12: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” I love the illustration we considered about the young Christian man working as a waiter in the dining room of that upscale restaurant and having to deal with some rude and unkind customers. The young man was all the things Paul called for in Colossians 3:12 – he was clothed in the attributes of his faith and that is what people saw in him. That would include his words.

How we speak is part of the way in which we present ourselves to the world. The words they hear coming from our mouth reveals what is true of us. And not just what we say, but also, and perhaps especially, how we say it. In Luke 6:45 Jesus reminds us, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” In other words, sooner or later whatever is in your heart will work its way up and come out of your mouth. That will especially be true in unguarded moments or in tense situations like that dining room scene with the young waiter who was being unkindly treated by some of the customers.

In Colossians 4:6 Paul instructs us to control our words as a matter of how we practice our faith. Our words are to be full of grace. They should be humble, gentle, and kind. But also, our words are to be seasoned with salt. The salt he refers to is the truth of God’s Word. The words we speak must be true and right, but also full of grace. It is possible to speak truthfully and kindly at the same time. We can be uncompromising while at the same time being calm, reasoned, and polite.

Yesterday, in conjunction with the truth of Colossians 3:12, I asked us all to consider, “What are you wearing today?” Today, as we consider the truth of Colossians 4:6, I ask, “What will you say today?”

Speak words of truth, but make sure they are words of truth that are clothed in grace.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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