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CURRENT RADIO SERIES God's Secrets   CURRENT TV SERIES Unchained

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” --Mark 10:21 I love reading the Scripture. Perhaps you and I have that in common. But I especially love the end of the Bible, because it has a happy ending. And in the end there will be no more sin, no more suffering, and no more Satan!    But, of course, not every story in Scripture has a happy ending. In fact, the rich young ruler, as he’s commonly known, didn’t find the happy ending he had hoped for. In fact, he’s one of the few people who, having encountered Jesus, left worse than he came. You see, by all natural standards this young man was a tremendous success. He was popular, powerful, and had great possessions. But when he asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life he was stunned by Jesus’ reply. Jesus told this young man that he still “lacked one thing.” And to find it he would have to rid himself of all his possessions. The Scripture says the young man walked away sorrowful. Listen! There is nothing on earth as important or as valuable as eternal life. You don’t have to walk away from Jesus sorrowful, not if you’re willing to let go of the world and follow him.   THERE IS NOTHING ON EARTH AS IMPORTANT OR AS VALUABLE AS ETERNAL LIFE.

Gracious and Salty Speech

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”
Colossians 4:2–6

I read a story about an elderly man whose hearing had declined over the years to where he could hardly understand what those around him were saying. Finally he went to the doctor and got a hearing aid. When he went back after a month for a checkup, the doctor asked how his family members liked being able to be heard when they spoke to him. “I didn’t tell them about the hearing aid,” the man replied. “I just sit there and listen. So far I’ve changed my will three times!”
God tells us in His Word that our speech should be wisely balanced with both grace and salt coming from our tongues. There are times to correct and times to praise and times to instruct. There are no times when it is right to gossip, to murmur, or to be critical with a harsh spirit. Many times we speak carelessly and thoughtlessly, not taking time to consider the impact of words we use on those who hear them.
The same passage in which Paul asked for people to pray for his speaking to be effective when he preached the gospel, contains this instruction about our daily conversation. Have you ever prayed that God would guide and guard your words as you talk to others? A person who does that will not casually speak because of the reminder of the importance of what we say to those who hear us.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Choose your words with great care, for they have a powerful impact on the lives of others.