“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Colossians 4:6
Okay, y’all today you will learn how mean I was without even knowing it, and how the Lord indeed is changing me day by day, glory to glory, I can’t do the crying emoji on here but insert it as you read this.
In middle school and high school, I was going through a lot. I was not a really good student, I liked what I liked and that is what I got good grades in, such as band and anything sports related and of course Spanish, even though I didn’t pay much attention and only got a 3 on my AP exam because of the dang grammar, but hey I passed. But, I didn’t push myself to know anything else, I couldn’t really understand, but did I push myself to the limit to thrive? I had great teachers y’all that if you needed extra help, they would help you during lunch or after school. It all started in middle school though where I was just a little insecure and wanted to feel special, wanted, I wanted friends that weren’t forced by my mom, I wanted friends that chose me. Anyways, so with all these emotions racked up, and my parents not satisfied with my grades and not really interested to enjoy with me what I enjoyed, i was just a upset person, so what came out of me was not our verse of the day, gracious speech, but anger tones, sarcasm that I didn’t know wasn’t sarcasm just mean; years later is when I find this out by my dear sweet gracious in speech husband. Y’all sarcasm in greek means “tear flesh.” no wonder I didn’t have friends, my speech was contaminated by insecurity, jealousy, envy, that I was speaking in such a way that would keep people away rather than desire people to stay. Our words can either keep people away or bring people near and ignite them to go into their spaces and encourage others through how they’ve been encouraged. we are called to build each other up not tear each other apart, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) But that is the type of world we live in. We live in a self-centered, world, where we just say what’s on our mind and we don’t think before we speak like James tells us to do. “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” James 1:19
Why are we called to be gracious with our speech even in the midst of hard moments or even good moments? Because as we read 1 Thessalonians 5 it says, THE DAY OF THE LORD IS COMING. AND AS BELIEVERS WE ARE TO BE HIS AMBASSADORS AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF WHAT CHRIST DID FOR US TO ALL WHO WILL LISTEN THAT HEAVEN WOULD BE CROWDED!
in Colossians it tells us, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” It doesn’t matter what the circumstances may be family, we are called to ALWAYS BE GRACIOUS with our speech, we are always called to speak to people in such a way where they hear God’s love and mercy for them through whatever we say. If we go a chapter before we read this, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)
The question this leaves me with is am I dwelling in His word? Like John 15 tells us to do. Let the following verses bring you joy. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:4-11
When we truly are abiding in Him and dwelling in Christ we can know without a shadow of a doubt that He what will come out of us no matter who we are around will be Him.
Apart from Him we can do nothing that will bring him glory. We can see know growth in our lives, no joy in our lives, just a striving to get joy or peace, but until we truly rest in what He has done we will not be able to glorify Him in our speech, in our actions, with our thoughts.
There is a beauty in Colossians 3:16-17, that when we are dwelling in Christ we will be able to teach, admonish, sing and praise God. We cannot do it apart from Him.
Quickly back to my story, if I were truly dwelling in Christ, I honestly think I would be in different emotional state back then but thanks be to God, I know I can’t go back but I am here now and if we allow the Lord to he will transform us now and for me right now he is using my husband and family to sanctify me to look and sounds more like Christ. Do we all have regrets, absolutely but we can’t stay in them because what change and praise to God will that do. We can only repent and humble ourselves and trust in the Lord all the more now to make our hearts to reflect His heart for the world.
So to close, in a world where it tells us listen to your heart, and that we have a right to say what our flesh wants to say and not graciously speak to one another, we as believers are held to a higher standard, to now allow this world keep us from reflecting Christ, our gracious and merciful Savior. We are called to live unfazed, steadfast, immoveable, to be holy as Christ is holy so that through our love and speech whoever comes into our spaces will see Christ’s grace, even if what they did or said was to offend us, may we be a people who are not offended but quick to turn our cheek and to even go the extra mile to show who we serve and why.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1
Our soft and calm speech can turn away wrath, say what? help us Lord to look to you in the hardest moments where we do want to give the harsh words back or the harsh actions back, may we truly go into every hard situation surrendered and humble to mirror you! Forgive us for the times where we did not allow your Spirit to lead us to reflect you, and did more harm than good, help us to do better not to receive a prize but to know what you did for us and why should we do the very thing that you came and died for, so that we may walk freely and joyfully without blemish but hope and perfect peace filled, we need you GOD! Have your way in us.
That is all I got for today friend, until tomorrow go and ignite every space you occupy for the glory and praise of our great and majestic God!
Cafe Enciende 
Leave a comment