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Christ’s Object Lessons
Speech
The power of speech is a talent that should be diligently cultivated.
Of all the gifts we have received from God, none is capable of being a
greater blessing than this. With the voice we convince and persuade,
with it we offer prayer and praise to God, and with it we tell others of
the Redeemer’s love. How important, then, that it be so trained as to
be most effective for good.
The culture and right use of the voice are greatly neglected, even
by persons of intelligence and Christian activity. There are many
who read or speak in so low or so rapid a manner that they cannot be
readily understood. Some have a thick, indistinct utterance; others
speak in a high key, in sharp, shrill tones, that are painful to the
hearers. Texts, hymns, and the reports and other papers presented
before public assemblies are sometimes read in such a way that they
are not understood and often so that their force and impressiveness are
destroyed.
This is an evil that can and should be corrected. On this point the
Bible gives instruction. Of the Levites who read the Scriptures to the
people in the days of Ezra, it is said, “They read in the book in the law
of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand
the reading.”
Nehemiah 8:8
.
By diligent effort all may acquire the power to read intelligibly, and
to speak in a full, clear, round tone, in a distinct and impressive manner.
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By doing this we may greatly increase our efficiency as workers for
Christ.
Every Christian is called to make known to others the unsearchable
riches of Christ; therefore he should seek for perfection in speech.
He should present the word of God in a way that will commend it
to the hearers. God does not design that His human channels shall
be uncouth. It is not His will that man shall belittle or degrade the
heavenly current that flows through him to the world.
We should look to Jesus, the perfect pattern; we should pray for
the aid of the Holy Spirit, and in His strength we should seek to train
every organ for perfect work.
Especially is this true of those who are called to public service.
Every minister and every teacher should bear in mind that he is giving
to the people a message that involves eternal interests. The truth spoken