September 22

The Grace Of Christian Speech

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. — 1 Pet 3:10 BSB

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Col 4:6 BSB

The ideal for Christian speech is given by the Apostle Paul in his words to the Colossians: our speech should always be full of grace. Grace implies mercy, charity, and the willingness to see the best in others’ words and actions. It is a great help in overcoming envy, jealousy, or unkind feelings when we train our lips to speak as Christ would have us speak. When tempted by jealousy, it’s easy to say unkind or demeaning things, but if we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will help us to check such words and replace them with kind and considerate ones. Try to say all the good you can about others and none of the bad. Remarkably, when we make the effort to speak kindly about those who irritate us, our inner disposition changes, adopting the tone of our words.

There should also be salt in our speech—purity, wisdom, and a certain sharpness that prevents decay, like the proverbs of Scripture. A playful wit or a bright response is not out of place, but when we are in conversation, people should sense a presence in us that prevents ill-natured gossip or inappropriate jokes.

We must continue in prayer that God would open doors of opportunity for us to speak of the beauty and glory of Christ. Sometimes, when faced with difficult questions, we find that the Holy Spirit gives us the words to say in the very hour we need them (Luke 12:12; 1 Peter 3:15).

It is recorded that during His trial, Jesus remained silent before Pilate and Herod, but when He reached the cross, He poured out His heart in prayer for His enemies: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” Speak more to God than to men who revile and threaten you. It is a great blessing to know that God can guard the door of our lips, for there is no part of our nature more in need of His keeping power.

Prayer

Live in us, Blessed Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, that our lives may be gospels of helpfulness and blessedness. May all foolish talk, bitterness, wrath, and anger be put away from us, with all malice. Amen.