I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
Just what is “unwholesome talk”? I think it’s the garbage that spews from our mouths because of the garbage that we have put into our minds.
Unwholesome talk is the opposite of helpful talk. What is helpful gives encouragement and is spoken in love. Unwholesome talk tears others down, vindictively and unthinkingly wounding another person with words that cannot be unspoken.
Would you stand in your kitchen and throw the potato peels at someone because you are frustrated with them? Neither should you stand there and “give them a piece of your mind.” They don’t need it or want it. What people will always need is a soft answer, a smile and a word of genuine kindness and encouragement.
The next time you start to spout off without thinking about the harm you are doing, picture yourself throwing garbage at the person. Your words matter, more than you know. And they will go with that person on their life journey for many days, weeks, months and even years. Words, like the stink of garbage, cannot be recalled, so be careful to say the words that build rather than destroy.
The simple answer to this question is that we all are. Some are more vocal than others and some have evangelism as their profession, but we have all been called to be evangelists, to share the good news about Jesus.
In the devotional this morning that I read about evangelism, I chuckled when the speaker in the video reminded us that we don’t plant seeds and then stand and yell at them to grow. Our responsibility is just to plant the seeds and that can look like a lot of different things.
We can encourage someone when they need a pat on the shoulder, a hug or a kind word. Speaking of kindness, we should always be kind to others no matter what kind of day we are having or the mood we are in. There is never an excuse for rudeness. In today’s world of selfishness and entitlement, it is evident that rudeness seems to be prevalent. That is why Christians can stand out and consistently offer kindness as our banner, not demands. And, of course, we can share our testimony with others about the difference Christ has made in our lives.
The last one is the hardest one for me because of my introverted nature. But I know that if I have established a relationship with another person, then it is easier for me to talk to them about my past, where I came from and how my life changed. I think one of the keys of a good evangelist is establishing relationships, not just preaching the gospel and expecting people to take your word for it.
Regardless of how we do the job that Jesus tasked us to do while we wait for His return, we are not in this alone. Evangelism is a team effort. We are the seed sowers while others who come behind us may be the ones who water or give nutrients to the new plant. We do what we feel the Spirit prodding us to do and then let God take over. That relieves us of the burden of thinking that is all on us…it isn’t and God’s Word tells us that.
Our purpose in evangelism is not so that others can see us and offer us any kind of recognition. Rather, it is to just go and tell. We tell with encouragement, kindness and our testimony. We tell with words from God’s Word. God will bring the growth but the seeds have to be planted first and that is our responsibility.
I have a closet full of clothing, including many items that I seldom if ever wear. There’s the suit dress that I wore to our son’s wedding, almost two decades ago. It is a lovely suit, but too dressy for every day and I don’t go to many weddings. I have a super heavy coat that a dear friend gifted me after she found out that I had knee replacement surgery and she wanted me to have a long coat to keep my knees warm. It is so heavy that I feel weighted down when I wear it, so I don’t wear it often, but it’s there for the really cold days when I need it. Finally, I have my wedding gown. Over fifty years old and I still have it. I won’t fit into it, and it’s nothing expensive or fancy that cost hundreds of dollars. In fact, I got it on sale at a now defunct department store, watching my pennies on a tight budget and knowing my parents weren’t chipping in for any of my wedding expenses. My veil cost more than the dress and I couldn’t tell you where that even is. I like to just see the dress sometimes and remember what that day was like for me.
Most of us have clothes that we don’t wear much but which we don’t want to give up. I have downsized my closet several times since my retirement, donating all of the professional teaching outfits that I know I don’t need now. There are some articles of clothing that God urges us to wear daily, and the good news is that they don’t take up any room in a crowded closet.
These are the attributes of someone who maintains a close relationship with God and who strives to be more like Jesus. Opening Jesus’s closet is free to us but it cost Him everything. Today, as I sit quietly in my pajamas (my daily outfit since retirement), I am pondering whether I am properly dressed for the day. I don’t have to wonder about whether things match or are appropriate for the activities for the day. What I put on each morning for the Lord always goes with whatever I am wearing outwardly and they are always just what I need to get me through the day. Being tenderhearted, showing mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience not only ministers to those around me, but they also make me feel better about any challenges during the day. After all, God wants me to face the world with the same empathy and compassion that His Son showed to all whom He met. The outward clothes I wear will wear out (or more likely stop fitting properly), but the clothes I put on for the sake of the Lord will always fit just right and be the exact qualities I need at the exact moment I need them.
Do you know what the people in the world do endlessly? They tear others down so that they look better. If you don’t believe me, just spend five minutes on social media and you will see that it’s all about how great they are compared to others. Or sit in a restaurant and watch how the customers treat their server. Some snap at the server for slow service or demand extra attention or amenities. Or go to a store and listen to what people say to the cashiers or the employees throughout the store. Impatience and rudeness seems to be a part of today’s culture.
I don’t want to be one of those who tear others down, but rather I want to build up others. I can only do that if I am confident in my place in the Lord, letting others know that they can have the same peace, the same patience and the same love that Jesus showed to others. They just have to surrender their lives to Him.
Some of the least likely people need encouragement. Pastors, teachers, evangelists…those serving the Lord daily and pouring out their hearts and lives for Him. How long has it been since you said an encouraging word to your pastor? Don’t just conjure up a word because I said to do so…pray about it and say it from your heart.
The regular people that we meet or come in contact with every day are hurting and need our encouraging words. It can be a simple smile, a heartfelt “thank you” or a sincere, “you’re doing a good job.” I seldom go out shopping anymore. It’s so much more convenient to shop online, have boxes delivered and move on to the next thing on my list. But I do come in contact with people, some deliberately and some just an accidental encounter. I know that I am responsible for each word that I speak to each person I meet, so I want each word to be purposeful and uplifting. I hope I am not, but I may be the only positive person that they come across that day.
No matter how we are encountering people, online or in person, we can be encouraging. I want to be known as a “Positive Polly” not a “Negative Nellie.” So, give everyone the benefit of the doubt and let them know that you appreciate their efforts to help you, serve you, talk to you, whatever it is that others do to interact with you. Let’s be the kind ones, the ones who truly set out to make a difference in a world that has become increasingly impersonal and self-absorbed.
Cultivate What Matters Most (You Version Bible App, Daily Devotional, 11-09-24)
Imagine putting on shirts of compassion, patience and forgiveness. That might seem ridiculous, but Colossians 3:12 tells us to “clothe ourselves” in traits that match our identity in Christ. In other words, we need to cover ourselves in actions and attitudes that result in us looking more like Jesus every day.
So, how do we do this? One way to get started is by thinking of the struggles that keep you from living more like Jesus, and then start to replace them with their opposite action.
If your communication leans sarcastic and cutting, choose to say something kind instead.
If you tend to come across as harsh, choose to do something that requires gentleness.
If you’re holding a grudge, choose to extend forgiveness.
As you go about doing that, choose to take part in activities that build you up spiritually. This could look like connecting with friends who will keep you accountable, memorizing Scripture that you can apply to your life, or cultivating compassion by serving in your community. The more you intentionally pursue actions that lead to humility, compassion, and kindness, the more those traits will become a natural part of your life.
And as you pursue the qualities mentioned in Colossians 3:12, the changes this produces will be most evident in the way you treat other people. The apostle John said that we can’t claim to love Jesus if we hate each other (1 John 4:20), so a life that reflects Jesus is going to embody love. And according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, love is “patient and kind. … It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. … Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
A life marked by God’s love is going to display the very things the apostle Paul talks about in Colossians 3:12.
So if we want to live like Jesus, then we need to receive the new life He’s given to us and accept His unconditional love. Only then can we begin to reflect His love to others by showing people compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
My Thoughts
Now is not the time to run around and brag about the victory of your favorite candidate. Now is the time to be kind and patient and tender-hearted. I remember how depressed and anxious I felt four years ago when Biden was elected. I was dismayed and in total denial. Now, I can apply that to family members and friends who supported Harris. They need to vent, and I need to be willing to listen. Pointing out the ungodly policies of their candidate will not help them. They are afraid because the MSM told them that Trump will destroy everything. So, instead of using words to point out facts, words that they cannot hear right now, I am choosing to be kind and compassionate and just listen. If they have a question, I will answer without being snarky. I want to show them the kindness that I would want shown to me if the other candidate had won.
This verse is perfect for right now and for every day. I am retired so my choice of attire in the mornings after I shower is warm pj’s or cool ones, depending on the weather. Sometimes, on appointment or meeting days, I even get dressed. But my outward appearance isn’t what matters to other people or to God. They want to see how I will treat them, even if they believe differently than I do. If we want to be like Jesus, we have to be willing to meet people right where they are and to just listen to what they need from us. Sometimes, it’s just kindness and compassionate understanding. Sometimes, we are called to act, like providing a person breakfast or a hot drink. Whatever we can do to be more like Jesus, then we need to choose to do it. It may not be comfortable for us like wearing pj’s all day, but stepping out and helping others know that Jesus is real and loves them is our mission in life. There is nothing more important that showing someone you love them so that they, in turn, can believe in the love of Jesus.
In my devotional yesterday, I was encouraged to make sure that I am following God’s plan for my life and not pursuing the things of this world. People who don’t know God are seeking riches, fame, and a lot of material things and pleasure. My purpose is to serve God and His kingdom in whatever way I can for as long as I am able.
Many reach the top of the ladder of success only to find that it is leaning against the wrong wall. Purpose in life is far more important than property or possessions. Having more to live with is no substitute for having more to live *for.* ~Nicky Gumbel, One Year Bible Devotional, September 2, 2023
Read that quotation again and really think about it. For years, I pursued the goal of being named “Teacher of the Year.” I worked hard, gave 110% to my students and their parents and wanted all of them to be successful in learning how to study. The end result was that the students were thankful, as were many of the parents, but the only teachers who were ever recognized were the “pets” or those who taught the mainstream classes for which the standardized tests were given. I gave up on that goal after I noticed that the “winners” were always the same people; they just took turns by department: math, science, history, English. God spoke sternly to me then and told me that my prize was not in being recognized but in serving Him and His plan for me. My purpose changed and so did my outlook about the other teachers. They were winners of a title, but they didn’t know the Lord as Savior, so ultimately, they were lost.
God created each of us with a purpose in mind. It is up to us to find out what that purpose is and to pursue it wholeheartedly. I was a good teacher, but that is not because I had any special talents or abilities. I was a good teacher because God’s Spirit gave me insight daily into the needs of my students and He showed me creative ways to reach them. I was good because God gave me that purpose and the ability to go with it.
The most important thing in life to pursue is not a thing, but a person. Jesus Christ…first, last and always…needs to be the center of all that you do, every day. The other things (riches, fame, etc.) may or may not come. But the promise is that you will have all that you need, not necessarily all that you want. What do you need to be happy and feel fulfilled? I need to know that I am doing God’s will and hearing His voice direct me daily, to leave my comfort zone and speak kindly and with encouraging words to strangers. I am not a farmer, but I am determined to sow seeds for the kingdom daily.
What I considered “good” (a title and the recognition that went with it), God didn’t esteem at all, or not that I could tell. God just wants me to treat everyone equally (justice), to be kind to all and to be humble before my Creator who gave me all that I have and made me all that I will ever be. In the end, what matters is leaning that ladder I’m climbing against the firm foundation of God’s Word. It’s the only way the ladder won’t fall and I won’t be disappointed in the end.
What is your purpose? On what are you leaning your ladder? I hope this post today has given you food for thought.
I really dislike when I am in a public place and someone starts berating another person, giving them a hard time loudly enough that those around them cannot help but overhear. I would like to think that the person berating the other one apologizes later and the rift that occurred gets healed. I’m not sure that is always the case though, and that saddens me. A heart was hurt that could have been encouraged. In teaching high school students for many years, it was a common sight to see the kids “dis” each other. When I would say something about it, the reply was inevitably that they were just jokin’ or kiddin’ around. I generally tried to remind them that the heart is not something that is easily mended but it is easily broken. Some were open and either did not criticize their peers in front of me or they dropped the habit. I would like to hope for the latter.
In this day and age when everyone has an opinion that they want to share with you, it is refreshing to hear kind words. Even when they are not addressed to me, I love to hear them. It stirs something deep within me to hear a wife say that she loves the tie her husband chose or that his new pants fit him well. I enjoy hearing parents tell their children what a good job they did listening and paying attention. I am often sitting quietly in church as I wait for the service to start and it’s heartwarming to see most of the interactions. Kindness is abundant and cheerfulness is apparent. I wish that this attitude would go out the church doors with everyone and into the grocery stores, the restaurants and other public places. Kind words are not just needed in church; they are needed everywhere, at all times. Our words matter and kindness counts, when we least expect it and in ways that we can only imagine. In a busy and hurrying world, take time to be kind and watch faces smile and hearts cheer up!
God showers us with blessings and sometimes in our ignorance of what He is doing, we put up an umbrella or run for shelter. Instead, we need to be in touch with what God’s plan is and accept the kindness, wisdom and understanding that He is giving us. Stand under the shower, don’t run away from it!
Remember the first time you started a relationship with someone? If the relationship is going to last, the two of you need to communicate with each other and trust each other. One of the ways to build that open communication is to honestly say kind words of appreciation to each other. Gary Smalley calls it “The Love Language.” The Bible tells us to build each other up, to encourage each other. Some days, after my husband has done one irritating thing after another, it’s hard to find something kind to say, but I look and there it is! Kindness leads to communication which leads to more kindness, appreciation and love.
Did you know that God desires us to worship Him? Not because He needs our worship but because our praise opens the doors of communication with Him. After all, our relationships on earth are a small mirror to what our relationship is supposed to be with God. So, praise should be a natural outpouring of our love for Him. We show our appreciation to the Lord for all He has done and our love for Him in our words of adoration and praise.
If you can’t find your own words to praise God, read the Word. It is filled with praise for our Mighty Creator. No one is like Him and no one deserves the praise that is His just because of Who He is.
A creature is a created being, one created by God. The creatures in Revelation know to praise God, the One who was in the time of creation and all of the patriarchs, the One who is fully present in our lives today and the One who is coming again to rule and reign forever.
Have you ever thought of how many words you say every day? Ponder that. Then, think about how many of them are kind words, words that build up and encourage.
Encouragement should be as much a part of our being as Christians as reading God’s Word for the encouragement that we get from that. Consider that many do not read His Word (although we are in absolute agreement that they should), and the only encouragement that some may get is from what may come out of your mouth. The clerk is slow and you’re in a hurry. Be gracious anyway. The traffic is backed up and you feel like you’re going to explode with anger. The passengers in your car need to hear gracious words instead. In whatever situation we find ourselves, we can choose to use grace in our words. Give love with your words, not judgment and condemnation. It’s your opportunity that God has given you to represent how He would respond to frustrations and challenges. Just be kind. I saw a sign that had a familiar saying on it, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” You don’t have to accept sin. I am not saying that by any means. But no matter what is happening in someone’s life, you can make a difference with a kind word, just noticing that the other person needs your encouragement just as much as you need to take in the manna from God’s Word daily.
May your day be filled with the opportunity to reach out to others with kind words, offering needed encouragement and a picture of what kindness looks like.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 