Articles
Let your speech be seasoned...
Depending on where we are and what we do every day, we may come in contact with thousands of people throughout the course of our lives. Of those we cross paths with, we may have the opportunity to speak with them. Some people we meet, we may never see them again, but what we have to say to them in that moment may turn them away from God or lead them to Him. Thus, we ought to ensure to the fullest of our abilities that what we say to anyone anywhere at any time will leave a good impression rather than a negative one. Paul encouraged the Colossians along these lines when he said: “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Col. 4:5-6).
At times we encounter situations that escalate our tempers and we say things that we regret. Occasionally we are called upon to be there for a friend of family member in need and we must impart words of encouragement. As Christians, Paul makes it clear our speech must always be with grace as if seasoned with salt. Like most of the exhortations we find in the scriptures, this one does not necessarily come naturally. How do we respond with “grace” when we are insulted or ridiculed? It can be hard to find words for certain situations. Regardless of how we feel, the importance of Jesus and His gospel must take precedence. We have to work on our speeches and what we say to people we may never see again. We must ensure that what they hear from us will point them towards Christ. If we make it a habit to put malicious intent, filth and anything that is unprofitable from our speech it will become easier to be prepared to impart a word of grace to anyone we come in contact with.
One word or a simple phrase may change someone’s heart forever. When I think about someone who spoke with grace and their speech season with salt, I look to Jesus’ cry on the cross: “Forgive them.”The Christ was able to muster up energy for a graceful message to His own enemies. The next time we have the chance to impart our words to another, let’s ensure that we speak with grace reflecting who lives inside of us.
