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June 18 Speak Up

You will find joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word! The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep them from going down to the grave. ~Proverbs 15:23-24

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ~1 Peter 3:15-16

“You will find joy in giving an apt reply.” We have already acknowledged that our tongues can get us into a lot of trouble, but that should not stop us from sharing words of wisdom and comfort when we can. So often we keep quiet, but, as Solomon acknowledged in Ecclesiastes 3, “There is a time to speak.” Staying silent is not always a virtue.

Why is speaking hard? Well, there are those times when holding the tongue is the right response, as when a fool is given full vent to their words. They aren’t interested in discussing, but venting, so you know that your words will end up like precious pearls, dropped on the ground, left to be trampled, not valued.

Sometimes we don’t want to speak because it will reveal our hidden thoughts, our inner selves, exposing us to criticism and ridicule, and possibly, correction. We fear being that vulnerable. We may hold back from uncertainty or cowardice. However, remembering what happens to the cowardly in the end, God may not excuse you if that is why you stay quiet.

“How good is a timely word!” There are those times when, by not speaking, we are withholding words of wisdom and comfort that will bless someone in their time of need. Then, there is the admonition in James 1 to be, “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Certainly, just blurting out your thoughts is not a wise move either.

Kathy says that one of my strengths is that I am, “quick to listen.” I do like to listen to all sides of a matter and then voice my opinion as part of the summary of all that has gone before me in a conversation. The joy comes in giving “an apt reply. In order to be able to reply, listening is required, to know what needs to be replied too.

Even in Peter’s instructions, he encourages us to be ready to give an answer. Answers are replies to questions. It may not be necessary for you to start the conversation about the hope that is within you, but are you able to give an apt reply to a question? “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.”(Proverbs 25:11-12)

When you became a Christian, you became blessed with the knowledge and words of life that will bless others to lead them to the path of life as well. “The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep them from going down to the grave.”

We should want that upward journey for everyone, but we also need to give our answers with gentleness and kindness, not in haughtiness or arrogance. I think that too many Christians have often come across with an, “I’m right and if you don’t do what I do that’s too bad for you,” attitude. The words might have been correct, but the judgmental attitude destroyed the delivery, making those correct words, not aptly spoken.

Our words, our attitude, and our concern for our questioner, along with the two sisters, wisdom and prudence, will guide us to aptly spoken responses that others will want to hear. Then, we will have joy in our hearts because we will know that our replies are being received as a blessing. We do this out of love and obedience to our heavenly Father, that He may be glorified in the apt words that He gives us to say.

Prayer: Oh Lord, may the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You as I think about what I am listening to, and may the words that I speak be aptly spoken, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Song: O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing  

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