Some people use pepper instead!
(J.R. Miller, "Christian Conversation" 1898)
the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34
Hence we must get our heart right--
if we would speak words that are
Christlike. A bitter heart cannot
give out sweet words--
nor can an impure heart
speak wholesome, pure words.
Most people talk too much--
they chatter on forever. Silence
is far better than idle, sinful,
or foolish speech.
We have suggestions in the New
Testament as to the kind of speech
that is worthy of a redeemed life.
Paul has some very plain words
on the subject:
come out of your mouths, but only
what is helpful for building others
up according to their needs, that
it may impart grace to the hearers."
Ephesians 4:29.
That is, no word should be spoken
which does not . . .
help to build up character,
make those who hear it better,
inspire some good thought,
some holy feeling, some kindly act,
or put some touch of beauty upon the life.
A Christian's words should
"impart grace to the hearers."
That is, they should impart blessing
in some way. We all know people
whose words have this quality.
They are not always exhorting,
preaching, or talking religiously--
and yet we never speak with them
without being the better for it.
Their simplest words do us good.
They give cheer, courage, and hope.
We feel braver and stronger after a
little conversation with them, even
after a moment's greeting on the street.
In another place Paul says,
full of grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to
answer everyone." Colossians 4:6.
This means graceful speech,
not merely as to its manner--
but also as to its quality. It must be
speech such as CHRIST HIMSELF
would use if HE were in our place,
and we know that every word
of HIS was a holy seed.
Our speech is to be "full of grace"--
it is to be true, reverent, helpful,
inspiring.
Our speech should be "seasoned
with salt," that is, it should be pure
and clean. Salt preserves from decay
and putridity. The Christian's speech
should have in it the divine quality
of holiness, and its effect should
be cleansing and purifying.
Someone speaks of the words
of JESUS as a handful of spices
cast into this world's bitter waters
to sweeten them. Every Christian's
words should have like influence in
society, wherever they are spoken.
The seasoning is important--
our speech is to be "seasoned
with salt." Love is salt. Truth is salt.
Our speech should be always kindly.
It should be without bitterness,
without malice, without unlovingness
in any form. The seasoning should
be salt. Some people use
pepper instead--
and pepper is sharp, biting,
pungent. Their speech is full of
sarcasm, of censure, of bitterness,
of words that hurt and burn.
This is not Christlike speech.
We should never be content to
talk even five minutes with another,
without saying at least a word or
two that may do good, that may
give a helpful impulse or kindle
an upward aspiration.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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