Page 249 - The Faith I Live By (1958)

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Words of Grace, August 18
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye
may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Colossians 4:6
.
How is it that many who profess the name of Christ utter so many
vain, idle words? Satan watches to obtain an advantage over those
who speak in a reckless manner.... When we utter meaningless and
silly words we encourage others to indulge in the same kind of con-
versation.... The only words that should come from our lips should be
pure, clean words. No one can tell how much sin is created by careless,
foolish, unmeaning words.... Every word you speak is as a seed that
will germinate and produce either good or bad fruit.
When in the company of those who indulge in foolish talk, it is our
duty to change the subject of conversation if possible. By the help of
the grace of God we should quietly drop words or introduce a subject
that will turn the conversation into a profitable channel.
He [God] desires us to be cheerful, but not trifling. He says to each
one of us, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation.”
1 Peter 1:15
. God wants us to be happy. He
desires to put a new song on our lips, even praise to our God.
When you take the hand of a friend, let praise to God be on your
lips and in your heart. This will attract his thoughts to Jesus.
How pleased the Saviour would be to hear His followers talking of
His precious lessons of instruction, and to know that they had a relish
for holy things! ... That which is in the heart will flow from the lips. It
cannot be repressed. The things that God has prepared for those that
love Him will be the theme of conversation. The love of Christ is in the
soul as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, sending forth
living streams, that bring life and gladness wherever they flow.
We lose much by not talking more of Jesus and of heaven, the saints’
inheritance. The more we contemplate heavenly things, the more new
delights we shall see, and the more will our hearts be brimful of thanks
to our beneficent Creator.
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