How Do We Speak?
by Tanya Person
One of the main causes of conflict that we have seen through our years of ministry has been caused through problems with communication. In this day and age, you would think that communication would be better than ever. We have email, Facebook, Twitter, What`sApp, Viber, Skype, cell phones, text messaging, and the list goes on! But even though, or maybe because, it`s so easy to communicate with others, misunderstandings still happen. People get hurt and offended by what others say. One part of our problem with modern communications is that we can’t hear the person`s voice and see their body language to understand what they’re saying, or how they’re saying it.
As I read today’s scripture, it struck me how much we need to be gracious to each other and that we really need God’s help to know how to give an answer to each person in our lives! We also need to be gracious when we read what someone else wrote, and not assume they wrote it to hurt us.
As Paul told the church in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we want to encourage one another and build each other up. It doesn`t mean only saying what others want to hear, ‘But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head — Christ’ (Ephesians 4:15).
Let’s choose today to live this way! Let’s seek God first, so we can be truthful and gracious to everyone in our lives. Let’s show God’s love to each other, so the world will see that we’re different.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to be careful what I speak and what I write. Let my words be gracious and encouraging, that I may build Your Kingdom and bring glory to Your name. Amen.
Tanya Person Tanya and her husband, Jim, were missionaries to Hungary for over 18 years. They have worked with Ellel since 2005. After serving in various positions with Ellel in Central and Eastern Europe, God led them back to the United States, where they are now serving with the Ellel USA team. They have a passion to see leaders restored, the church discipled and walking in God’s fullness of life and freedom, and for mentoring the existing and developing team. Tanya also enjoys crocheting and knitting in her free time and has written some children’s picture books.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
