Always Full of Grace

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”- Colossians 4:5-6

"Let your conversation be always full of grace..." Ooops - messed up on that one just this morning as I was complaining about someone who it seems is always complaining! How easy it sometimes is to tear someone down, rather than build them up!

Yet, we are commanded, of course, to love - and "Love is patient...it is not rude..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NIV) or put another way, "Love has long patience...it does not behave in an unseemly manner..." (Darby translation). 1 Thessalonians 5:11 calls us to "encourage one another and build each other up."

There's something beautiful that happens when we encourage others, we find that we ourselves are encouraged. When we give grace, we celebrate the grace that was so mercifully extended to us by the Father. "He who refreshes others, will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25

Even more beautiful than that, in refreshing and encouraging others - we refresh our Master! "Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters." Proverbs 25:13. We, His messengers, in serving Him and communicating His message have the awesome opportunity to refresh the Spirit of our Lord.

Father God - how I could use more grace in my attitude and conversation! Lord, let us be wise in our actions towards others. Teach us Your ways that we might communicate Your love to those around us.