Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
– Colossians 4:6
There are many stories about Thanksgiving dinners going awry when relatives gather together. An innocent question, such as “How’s Mary doing?” could result in a long dialogue about Mary, leading to gossip and a plethora of hurt feelings. As families gather together for the holiday, today’s verse may prevent rifts and conflict!
This Thanksgiving, pay attention to not only what goes in your mouth but what comes out of it. Jesus said, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11). The apostle Paul says, “Let no corrupt 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” (Ephesians 4:29).
This nation has increasingly suffered under the weight of contentious words. Kindness is too often missing in the daily interactions, both between strangers and even amongst friends. The internet and social media can spread untruths around the world in a matter of seconds. Ask the Lord to lead you today in what you speak and any online posts you share, that you glorify Him through gracious, loving, and edifying words. Pray for the people of the United States to turn to the Lord to heal from the divisive rhetoric that has taken root. All things are possible with God! Echo the prayer of the psalmist, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
Today’s Verse: Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 15:10-20
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
