02/05/2021
How do we go about speaking to those who don’t know Jesus, or to one another in times of disagreement? What tone is set by our words as we reveal heavenly truths, or attempt to open the eyes of others to our way of thinking, or to faith in Christ? Gracious words reveal the divine grace within us; they are mighty indeed, and bear witness to the health and love within us. The grace in our words wins souls, and refreshes our own soul as we worship.
“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Proverbs 16:24 ESV
There is an old saying that I have heard too many times to count, and although it isn’t scripture there is wisdom in it. This saying goes like this “You catch more bees with honey than vinegar”. The idea being conveyed here is that kindness wins people over to our way of thinking much more successfully than being hurtful, or mean spirited to them can. There is another Proverb that helps us understand this further...
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1 ESV
We carry a sharp tongue into a fight just as certainly as we might carry a knife. Bitter, convicting, or language that punishes, turns people away... a sinner who is told how terrible, or unrighteous they are will be hard to bring to Christ, but if we show them the love of God, the error of sinful living, and the value that righteous behavior will have in transforming them into wholesome men and women, then that will open their eyes to the wisdom of accepting God and Jesus into their lives. Arguing faith with the faithless wins no one to Christ, and only serves to encourage others to dig their battlements deeper.
“Walk in wisdom 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.”
Colossians 4:5-6 ESV
So how do we approach those we wish to bring to Christ, or someone with whom we disagree concerning a point of faith? Do we unsheathe the knife of our tongue, or do we use wisdom in selecting a gentle tone, and convincing points? Let’s look introspectively into how we behave in such moments; let’s look at how we speak, and the language our bodies convey.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”
Proverbs 25:11-12 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your wise and loving demeanor, and for your Son Jesus who teaches us how to speak truth without resorting to bitterness. Thank you Lord for placing your hand of restraint over ours in those moments when we reach for our knife out of anger and frustration. Father strengthen us so that we can endure an aggressive debate without becoming overwrought, and give us wisdom as we search for just the right language needed to bring lost souls to you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who has loved us enough to send your Son to die for us, even though we were yet evil, and sinful. Your language was one of love in the face of our bitterness, and sin. Praised be your name Lord for every carefully chosen word that led us to proclaim you to be our God, and to confess Christ as our savior. Merciful are you in your forgiveness, and loving in the application of your grace. Thank you Lord Jesus for your embrace at the moment of our conversion, and thank you Father for calling us your children in that instant of righteous confession. Lead us now in the wisdom and kindness of our words and demeanor as we hold out your Holy Word in our hands for others to partake of, and the gospel of Jesus to souls that need your grace so desperately.
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV
Rich Forbes