“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” Colossians 4:6

On any given day, we may be spoken to in a variety of different ways. Have you ever encountered somebody in a hurry whose words seemed terse and without compassion? Or have you ever been stressed and in a rush, and spoken to your children or your spouse without any evidence of grace? 

Colossians 4:6 instructs us to speak gracious words to one another.  But how do we do this?  Is it simply slowing down or thinking through what we say? Or trying harder to say the right things the right way? Though trying harder may help for a little while, speaking gracious words is really a heart matter.  Luke 6:45 states, “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” 

Is grace evident in your heart?  Perhaps we need to reflect on God’s graciousness to us beginning with our salvation and how it continues in our lives today in sanctification.  By God’s grace, through faith in Christ, we are saved. By His grace, we continue to be sanctified despite our continued struggles against sin.  Living in these gospel truths can help us speak graciously even when deadlines, agendas and crises interrupts our plans.   These gospel truths also help us when we do fall short in our words. 

From the book of wisdom, “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Proverbs 16:24). Let us become more aware of how certain words, spoken in a timely manner and tone, can make a difference in lifting up other people’s countenances. May we consider how to brighten people’s days with encouragement and hope.  May we also be contrite and remorseful when our words hurt others or when we express ourselves ungraciously.   Gracious words begins with the gospel and continues with the gospel.  

Here is a prayer: Lord God Almighty, we give you thanks for both your abundant grace and daily mercy.  We thank you that by your divine love and sovereign plan, you sent Christ to redeem us. We understand our purpose in Christ Jesus.  We ask that our hearts be cleansed and our speech be seasoned with grace that it may bring blessing to all we encounter with the encouragement and hope of Christ Jesus.   In Jesus’ Name, Amen.