Our Words And Being In His Word
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."(Ephesians 4:29)
Just a very short verse but oh so powerful.Paul has been teaching us doctrine in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians as his custom is in most of his letters and then the remainder of his letters are devoted to practical or letting that knowledge of doctrine live out in our lives.
Knowing the doctrine is one thing but the practice is something else.That is the part that effects others.Is it put into play so that it helps and builds up others?
The word corrupt here has to do with rotten fruit.Sometimes the words that come out of our mouths can be just rotten.We can have all the knowledge but with no wisdom as how to present it.
Sometimes we can have good intentions,but come across critical,unkind and with cutting remarks.Then sometimes we can come across that way and mean for it to be that way just to hurt or in a condescending way to show how knowledgeable we are and how ignorant of some doctrine or truth the other person is.
This is certainly not teaching or edifying or ministering grace.If our words don't edify or build up and minister grace to the hearers,then we would be better off to keep our mouths shut.
But God can use our words to comfort,teach and encourage and just maybe inspire others to turn to God's Word for salvation or to get to know their Savior even more by being in His Word and growing in grace and knowledge.If the Word of God is having the right effect in our lives,and that means we need to be in it,then we will be a blessing to others.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."(Colossians 3:16)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.That means we need to be in the Word.
"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." (Colossians 4:6)
Our words should be gracious but also conveying the truth concerning the unbelievers need and the gracious words of encouragement and if need be gracious words of reproof or rebuke with believers.
This should be done with love and concern and not thoughtless words of criticism that tear down and not build up.
This is why we need the Word of God in our minds and hearts and that means time spent in the Word and in much prayer and then the Holy Spirit can bring to mind the words and facts as we need them to answer someone.
"That you may know how you ought to answer each one."
"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."(Colossians 4:5)
I believe Paul is referring to the lost,the ones without Christ when he refers to the ones that are without or outside the faith.We are to be ready with the Gospel of truth redeeming or buying up the time and wise unto every opportunity and just waiting for the Lord to open the door for His Word.Note what Paul said in verse three when he requests their prayer.
"meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains" (Colossians 4:3)
Just praying and waiting and conscious to that open door.
"Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."(Colossians 4:6)
How you ought to answer,now that is a responsibility and that means time spent in the Word and in much prayer.
Love but not compromising the Gospel,not condoning.Being firm about the truth.
Having the knowledge,yes but also having the Godly wisdom to know how to share that knowledge.
Redeeming the time,knowing when that door is open,having the knowledge and the wisdom to present it when the question is asked.
"But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."(2Timothy 2:23-26)
Note: "if God perhaps will grant them repentance."Arguing does no good.Someone once said that when arguing with a fool it's hard to tell which one is which.
In the time we are living when much false teaching and false doctrines are out there,we have even more reason to be in God's Word seeking His guidance and in much prayer that we don't yield to our own worldly wisdom and be influenced by these false teachers.Many are very deceitful,having just enough truth to lure people in.
We are living in a time when people are turning their ears from the sound teaching of the Word and are looking for something new and with the media that is available.Any teaching they desire is out there.
We that are saved,we have the very Spirit of God indwelling us and we have the Word and we have the privilege of coming straight to the throne of Grace anytime.We should have no excuse and no reason for being deceived when we have the Spirit,the Word and prayer.
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."(2Timothy 4:3-4)
"always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."(2Timothy 3:7)
"Redeeming the time."That can be hard without the knowledge,patience and wisdom of God that we get by being in His Word and just abiding in Him.
Yes the lives we live and the words we present are so important.