37 lines
4.2 KiB
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37 lines
4.2 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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November 29
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<h1>Jesus' Example of Grace for Our Speech</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>You are <b>fairer</b> than the sons of men; <b>grace</b> is <b>poured</b> upon <b>Your lips</b>…Let <b>your</b> speech <b>always</b> be with <b>grace</b>, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Psa', 45, '2-2');">Psalm 45:2</a> and <a onClick="return mV('Col', 4, '6-6');">Colossians 4:6</a>)</div>
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<p>In our two previous meditations, we saw Jesus as our two-fold example of suffering and grace. First, He exemplified the suffering that prepares us for God's grace to work in our lives. Second, He exemplified how God's grace is to develop our lives comprehensively. Now, we consider <b>Jesus' example of grace for our speech</b>.</p>
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<p>Centuries before the Messiah (Jesus) came into this world, the Psalmist prophesied of the <b>words of grace</b> that would flow from His mouth. <i>"You are <b>fairer</b> than the sons of men; <b>grace</b> is <b>poured</b> upon <b>Your lips</b>."</i> God's <b>grace</b> guided and poured forth through the words of Jesus and set His speech above that of every other person. Those who listened to Him during His earthly pilgrimage testified of this fact. <i>"<b>All</b> bore <b>witness</b> to Him, and <b>marveled</b> at the <b>gracious</b> words which proceeded out of His mouth"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk', 4, '22-22');">Luke 4:22</a>). One of the distinctive aspects of Jesus' words was the unique authority this grace imparted. <i>"Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was <b>teaching</b> them on the Sabbaths. And they were <b>astonished</b> at His teaching, for <b>His word</b> was with <b>authority</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Luk', 4, '31-32');">Luke 4:31-32</a>). At one point in Jesus' ministry, the Jewish leaders wanted the temple officers to take Jesus into custody, but they returned empty-handed. <i>"Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, 'Why have you not brought Him?' The officers answered, '<b>No man</b> ever <b>spoke</b> like <b>this Man</b>!'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn', 7, '45-46');">John 7:45-46</a>).</p>
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<p>The Lord intends for this same grace to pour forth when we speak. <i>"Let <b>your</b> speech <b>always</b> be with <b>grace</b>."</i> When we humbly allow the Lord to flood our speech with His grace, our words have a heavenly flavor to them: <i>"<b>seasoned</b> with <b>salt</b>."</i> His grace will also add heavenly wisdom to our words: <i>"that you may know <b>how</b> you <b>ought</b> to <b>answer</b> each one."</i> This causes our speech to be edifying to others, because our words are ministering God's grace into their lives. <i>"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary <b>edification</b>, that it may impart <b>grace</b> to the hearers"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Eph', 4, '29-29');">Ephesians 4:29</a>).</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord Jesus, Your words are the kind of words I want to speak—words permeated with the grace of God. Please forgive me for the many words I have expressed that were corrupted by my own fleshly wisdom or selfish interests. I humbly ask You to season my speech with heavenly righteousness and godly insight. I long to impart edifying grace to all who hear me speak. In Your holy name, I pray, Amen.</div>
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