The next time you feel yourself about to lash out at one of your brothers or sisters, remember they too are builders working on behalf of God. Instead of words that tear down, let us remember the key verse from today as our guideline for how we should speak to one another.
First of all, let our speech always be with grace. Not sometimes. Not when all is going well. Not when we feel someone might deserve it or not. ALWAYS. And what about that word grace? The dictionary defines grace as "mercy, clemency, or pardon." What this means for us is that we do not give to others based upon what we feel they might deserve. We act with mercy towards someone because Christ acts with mercy towards us. We grant clemency and pardon to others because of the clemency and pardon God has shown us. If we were all to receive according to what we deserve, none of us would make the cut. We are only righteous because of the blood of Jesus Christ shed for us on Calvary. The person you seek to "dress down" or be corrective toward is no better or worse than you. Additionally, when our words lack the grace of God we are only providing fuel for discord:
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15: 1 (NIV)
Often times it is the response that causes the disagreement. It is the reaction that causes the dissension. Grace provides pardon for someone. It provides mercy and allows the love of God to prevent a disagreement. But not only should we proceed always with grace, we need to make sure that our words are seasoned with salt according to the key verse. Salt does two main things beloved. It flavors and it preserves.
As Christians, we need to provide the flavor in our discourse. We need to "set the tone." We can do so abiding by the teachings of Jesus or we can abide in our flesh; our reactive nature. What taste do we want to leave in the mouths of those who interact with us? Do we want them to walk away with that good taste? The taste of a life saved by Christ. A life that is not willing to react and respond as the world does. A life that does not just talk about grace and mercy but actually lives it out; to its fullest? Are we following the wisdom of Solomon?
Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17: 9 (NIV)
What are we fostering in our speech? Are we fostering love or do we seek to separate? Remember, our words can either bring people together or drive people apart. When the dictionary describes the flavor definition of salt, it uses the word "liveliness." Are we introducing liveliness into the conversations we have? Are we speaking life or death?
Salt is also very useful for preserving. Our speech should be preserving in nature. It should seek to preserve the peace in every situation to avoid arguments and strife. It should seek to preserve relationships not destroy them. More often than not when we see speech that is not seasoned with salt, it will appear very bitter in nature. More often than not, it is driven by ego, by the flesh. But what does the Bible say about that?
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3: 1-14 (NIV)
When you feel the need to respond in the flesh remember that you have died to that nature already. Get rid of the anger, rage and malice. You are not better than the sister or brother you wish to speak down to. You are both hidden in Christ. For your words to be filled with grace and seasoned with salt you must make sure that you are clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. When you are kind and compassionate you care too much to hurt the other person with your words. When you are truly humble in heart you realize your own faults not just what you perceive to be theirs. When you operate in gentleness and patience you become proactive to heal rather than reactive to hurt. Bear with one another beloved no one is perfect but God. Forgive as you have been forgiven. And above all else, bind everything you do, everything you think, and everything you say in the love of Almighty God. It is what holds us together. It is what keeps us together. Let your word represent the God who has saved you. The God who has kept you. The God who loves you.
