| Yesterday's Bible Study |
In this verse from Colossians, Paul emphasizes the importance of our speech. The words we speak have the power to lift up and encourage people but if used unwisely, they can cause a great deal of hurt and harm. Today, we'll think about how we can speak with wisdom so the words we use honor the Lord.
What does it mean for our speech to be with grace? Words of grace are kind, encouraging, spoken with love--they are meant to build people up. They seek to edify people in the Lord by sharing His love. This might be through something as simple as a compliment, a thank you note, or a kind word to a stranger. Consider your words a gift, and give freely.
Using our words to glorify the Lord and encourage others begins with being saturated in His Word. This means we should meet with Him every day in the Bible to let Him speak to us before we speak to anyone else. God's words give us life and hope, and when we are filled with these things, we can freely share them with others. We won't expect or need anyone to fill us up because we will already be satisfied in the Lord.
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Think about the many opportunities you have to bless another person with your words. How many brief encounters do you have with people each day? The cashier at the coffee shop, the bank teller, a coworker, or even someone you happen to pass in the hallway--these are all people whom you can bless with a kind word.
When you get in the habit of showing, through the words you speak, the love that the Lord has shown you, you will begin to develop a giving spirit that draws other people to you. People long for an encouraging word from another person think about the last time you received a compliment and how it made you feel. Begin to view your speech as a conduit for sharing God's love with everyone around you; a way of bringing Him into their lives, if only for a brief moment. There is no finer example of showing grace.
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