DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY - HOW TO SPEAK GRACIOUSLY. Part 1.

If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor? - Henry N. Ferguson.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison, that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. - Col 4:2-6.

Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon's orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the newspapers and became the talk of the town. People flocked to Parker's church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal.

"I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead." The crowd was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates 3 times. Later that week there was a knock at Parker's study. It was Spurgeon. "You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed". – Moody Monthly.

Paul says... Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. - Col 4:2-6. The phrase, ‘always be gracious’ means that whenever we open our mouths, what comes out, must be filled with graciousness. It also has the idea of the Lord’s influence upon our hearts, and its reflection in our life.

We know the tongue has incredible power. A kind word can build you up... The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. - Prov 10:20-21. It is Godly to give compliments whenever we can. A mean or hateful word can break our hearts!

In James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. That is pretty powerful, so we need to consider...

HOW TO SPEAK GRACIOUSLY

To speak graciously, we need to do this... Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. - Col 3:16. (KJV). Before our speech can be gracious, we need grace in our hearts!

Why? Jesus says... The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. - Luke 6:45. Someone who says kind things has a kind heart, someone who says negative things, has a negative heart, and someone who says mean things, has a mean heart. What's inside comes out!

Many a blunt word has a sharp edge. Keep your words soft and sweet; you never know when you may have to eat them. - Our Daily Bread.

What if we have grace in our hearts? Paul tells us tells us what happens... 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. - Col 3:17. Do it all in the name of our LORD JESUS! This means with His approval! Would the Lord approve of our speech?

To speak in the name of Jesus, graciousness must always be in our hearts. No one who curses, swears, lies, gossips, runs others down, is letting the Word of Christ dwell in them richly! We should strive to make this our goal, and whatever we say, say it in the name of the Lord! We’ll have a hard time yelling at another driver in Jesus' name, screaming at our kids, in Jesus' name, or saying unkind things to our spouse, in Jesus' name!

Watching a trapeze show is breathtaking. We wonder at the dexterity and timing. We gasp at near-misses. In most cases, there is a net underneath. When they fall, they jump up and bounce back to the trapeze. In Christ, we live on the trapeze. The whole world should be able to watch and say, "Look how they live, how they love one another. Look how well the husbands treat their wives. And aren't they the best workers in the factories and offices, the best neighbors, the best students?"

That is to live on the trapeze, being a show to the world. What happens when we slip? The net is surely there. The blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, has provided forgiveness for ALL our trespasses. Both the net and the ability to stay on the trapeze are works of God's grace. Of course, we cannot be continually sleeping on the net., If that is the case, I doubt whether that person is a trapezist. - Juan Carlos Ortiz.

We need God’s grace in our hearts! If we have this, we have true Salvation, and complete submission to Him!

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to speak graciously at all times. Let my words reflect the life and grace of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray, amen.

GBYAY