Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you many know how to answer everyone.
On Wednesday, our young adult small group spent a lot of time working through the meaning of this verse and discussing its implications for our lives. The conclusions we drew were insightful and have been stirring in my spirit ever since.
My understanding of the word "grace" is receiving something you don't deserve. God the Father showed us the fullest extent of his grace when he turned his back on his son, Jesus Christ, who bore ALL the sins of the world on his shoulders as the life dripped from his beaten body on that rugged cross. Human beings, as his creation, were given the choice to sin or follow our Creator. We chose separation from God rather than communion with him, but in all his mercy, God offered an alternative. Wereceived the gift we never could have earned--total forgiveness and full and eternal life.
Having my conversation always be filled with grace starts there--at the cross. I must be constantly connected with that sacrifice, the redemption granted me from that place where my Savior died. If my mind is meditating on the cross, on his grace, my heart will be overflowing with the same.
Every word I exchange with another should flow from the place of grace--particularly if that person "deserves" nothing other than frustration, anger, disrespect. In those moments when I have been wronged, humiliated, frustrated, exasperated, annoyed, or hurt, I am to season my words with salt--making them delicious to the recipient. The sentences flowing from my lips should not be the same as the world's. Those who don't follow Jesus believe in retaliation, anger, and revenge. But Jesus showed us a different way. The way of Grace.
To be seasoned with salt means our words go from being normal, typical, similar to the rest of the population's, to be tasty, memorable, enjoyable, blessed. Salt keeps food preserved, fresh. Our words shouldn't be filled with bitterness, rage, or malice, but with the life-giving, sustaining, savory salt of grace.
I definitely came across this yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI was praying yesterday that my actions and speech would be full of grace during my sub day...
well I needed it most after reading some comments about my presentation (read my last blog to have the details if you haven't already). But, anyways... I know for sure one of the people who wrote one of those comments (not which comment though) and this person presented right after me.
I could have railed against them, just like they did me.
I wanted to.
I gave them an honest critique though, it was still probably a little harsh despite my best efforts, but there were alot of nice complements too. The comments were just on their presenting and not anything personal.
God most definitely gave me a wakeup call last night.
Cool blog, great posts.
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