Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
The Apostle Paul is encouraging us to respond with gracious words when we answer someone. It means we should be gracious rather than blasting or lashing out at the person when we hear a negative comment, a bad report or a mismatch of expectations. We should respond with grace and words that are seasoned with salt because we understand and appreciate the unconditional love that God has for us despite our shortcomings. We love because God first loved us. When our words are seasoned with salt, it means that they are kind, edifying, meaningful and truthful. We will be very conscious of how we speak after we are born-again since we have a cleansed conscience. We can utter a prayer where we ask God to allow the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts to be acceptable to Him. God is our strength and redeemer. We can do ALL things through Him who strengthens us. We have to guard our lips and bridle our tongues so that our speech will always be with grace and seasoned with salt.
Proverbs 16:24 (NKJV) Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
The soul comprises the mind and emotions therefore pleasant words are like a honeycomb to it. Every one of us should speak words that edify, affirm and comfort. Pleasant words make a person feel good especially those whose love language is words of affirmation! We have learnt that words can hurt and destroy a person’s self-esteem. At times, our body reacts to the word that is being spoken about/to us but we do not understand its reaction.
The authors of Words Can Change Your Brain. Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Robert Waldman wrote: “a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.”Positive words, such as “peace” and “love,” can alter the expression of genes, strengthening areas in our front lobes and promoting the cognitive functioning of the brain. They propel the motivational centers of the brain into action, explain the authors, and build resiliency”. According to the same authors, “Conversely, hostile language can disrupt specific genes that play a key part in the production of neurochemicals that protect us from stress. Humans are hardwired to worry – part of our primal brains protecting us from threats to our survival – so our thoughts naturally go here first.” (https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/therese-borchard-sanity-break/420/)
We need to stop being harsh and unkind with our words toward others, to those we love and in the family of believers. The words we speak matter to the people around us especially if they respect us. As Christians, we should practice speaking the word of God over our lives and the lives of our loved ones! Let’s guard our lips and speak words that encourage , motivate, edify and uplift the people around us. We can choose to speak what we believe is in line with what the Word of God teaches us. We can also choose to frame our world with God’s help through our spoken words.
Sermon Series: Ouch! It Hurts! (Part 2)
管住嘴巴
歌罗西书 4:6 你们的言语要常常带着和气、好像用盐调和、就可知道该怎样回答各人。
使徒保罗鼓励我们用亲切和气的话语回应别人，这意味着当我们听到负面评论、糟糕的报告或与预期不符时，我们应该保持亲切，而不是猛烈攻击或抨击对方。我们应该用恩典和温柔的方式，词语来回应，因为我们理解并感恩上帝对我们无条件的爱，尽管我们有很多的不足。我们爱是因为神先爱了我们。当我们的话用盐调和时，就意味着它是善意、有启发性、有意义的和真实的。在主里重生后我们会非常谨慎自己的言行，因为我们的心思意念是被更新洁净的。我们可以发出祷告，祈求上帝让我们心中产生的默想及脱口而出的话语是祂所能接受的。上帝是我们的力量和救赎者。靠着那加给我们力量的，我们凡事都能做。我们必须谨守我们的嘴唇并勒住我们的舌头，以便我们的言语常常带着和气，好像用盐调和。
箴言 16:24良言如同蜂房、使心觉甘甜、使骨得医治。
灵魂包括思想和情感，因此良言如同蜂房，使心甘甜。我们每个人都应该说造就、肯定和安慰的话。良言温柔的话语令听者心情舒畅，尤其对于那些爱的语言是肯定的话语之人！我们已经了解到，言语会伤害和摧毁一个人的自尊。有时，我们的身体会对正在谈论/说的话做出反应，但我们不了解它的反应。
《言语能够改变你的大脑》 的作者、医学博士 Andrew Newberg 和 Mark Robert Waldman 写道：“单单一个词就具备影响基因表达的能力，这基因调节身体和情绪的压力。”积极的词，例如“和平”和“爱”可以改变基因的表达，加强我们大脑前叶区并促进大脑的认知功能。他们推动大脑的动机中心采取行动，并建立韧性。”他还说：“相反，充满敌意的语言会破坏特定基因，这些基因在保护我们免受压力的神经化学物质的产生中起关键作用。人类天生就会担心 – 这是我们原始大脑的一部分，保护我们免受生存威胁—所以我们的想法自然而然地首先出现在这里。”（https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/therese-borchard-sanity-break/420/）
我们需要停止对他人、我们所爱的人和信徒家庭说出言辞苛刻和不友善的言语。我们所说的话对我们周围的人至关重要，特别是如果我们是被他们所尊重的。作为基督徒，我们应该操练对着我们所爱之人的生命说出上帝的话语！让我们谨守我们的嘴唇，说出鼓励、激励、启发和提升我们周围人的话语。我们可以选择说出与圣经的教导相一致的言语。我们也可以选择在上帝的帮助下通过我们的言语构建我们的世界。
讲章系列：哎哟！很伤人啊！ （第2部分）