Gracious Words

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

- Proverbs 16:24

If you are like me, reading this verse took you a little off guard. It may have taken you by surprise, or maybe this is a verse that you know very well.

What this verse says is foreign to a lot of people in our society today. All around us we see hateful speech and words that are meant to destroy. It seems that everywhere we turn, words are being used to slander and tear down. We see it on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We see it on all of the major news networks. We hear it on the radio. Our society is riddled with speech that is far from gracious.

We as Christians need to be combating this. We as Christ followers need to be the ones that are filled with gracious words.

Gracious words can build up. They can encourage and uplift. They can bring a ray of light into a dark situation. They can show the love of Jesus in a desperate time. They can remind us of the love that God has for us.

As we live in a society that is filled with speech that is not gracious, we need to seek out opportunities where the words that we speak can bring life and encouragement. We are called to love our neighbors, and I believe that includes speaking words that are filled with grace.

As we begin the process of starting to gather as a church family, I encourage you to put this idea into practice on Sunday morning. Speak encouraging words to the fellow church members. Build up your brothers and sisters in Christ with words that are overflowing with grace.

Let’s seek to be a church that is uplifting one another with the love of Jesus.