Nobody's gonna tell me what I can and can't say!

SCRIPTURE
(Col. 4:6) "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person."


OBSERVATION
Paul is aware of the struggles of the church in Colossae and the potential of the tongue to build up or tear down. Paul is outlining overt signs of holiness in public life, and the tongue, or the way we speak to others, is an indicator of our heart's condition. Proverbs 15:4 says, "a soothing tongue is a tree of life, but perversion in it crushes the spirit."


APPLICATION
People often think that because I live in a free country with freedom of speech, I have the right to say whatever I want. In the kingdom of God we have a responsibility to guard what we say. Hebrews 10:24 says that we should consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. When a person is trully surrendered to the lordship of Christ, they will choose their words wisely.

PRAYER
Lord, help me to ever be mindful of the power you have given me in the words I speak. Let my words bring health and healing because they are tempered by Your love.