LUKE 4:16-22 -And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
THEME OF THE DAY: GOSPEL-SEASONED SPEECH. Imagine sitting in the synagogue in today’s scripture and watching the Lord Jesus come in, stand up, and read from the book of Isaiah; a reading that captures the full essence of the Gospel. We, too, would have joined the crowd marveling over the gracious Words He spoke.
Speech is so important. Words matter and even more for those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ. Our speech, the “Jesus” quality or lack of, will either affirm our profession of faith in Christ before others or betray our profession of faith in Christ before others.
The Christian who is genuine will present an attractive and affirming possession of faith in Christ both in conduct and speech. As for such a true testimony concerning our speech, there are clear indications. Christ’s people will be marked by speech that is gracious, void of complaining, lacking the slang of worldliness, absent of gossip, absent of slander, absent of critical words about others, and noticeably uplifting, encouraging, and when people leave a conversation with them, they think of Jesus.
The Apostle Paul refers to such Christ-honoring speech in his letters to the Ephesian and Colossian believers. As we read them, they would be good to put to memory so the Holy Spirit may remind us of the quality of speech we are to have – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29) and Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person (Colossians 4:6).
PRAYER: “Father, please season my speech with grace, Gospel-grace, that points people to Jesus.”
QUOTE: “Our speech will either affirm our profession as a Christian or confuse others of our profession.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim