To Speak or not to Speak...

 Colossians 4:5  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
Colossians 4:6  Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Titus 3:2  speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.


James_1:19  Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger
James_2:12  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

Let me say right off the bat that I agree that many are "preaching" incorrectly, taking verses out of context etc., and that is not what I hope to do with bringing up these verses. I agree that we should speak up about the things that go contrary to God's word, no question about that...but lately I've been pondering on how to truly be led to do so in the Spirit of the Lord, and not with a contentious spirit (of that I have been often guilty, to my shame). Paul asked for doors to be opened:



Colossians_4:3  At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—


and this where he said a wide door:


1Corinthians 16:8  But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
1Corinthians 16:9  for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.


and this one:

2Co 2:12  When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord,
2Co 2:13  my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
2Co 2:14  But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.


I hope that I will be more obedient to follow the Lord's leading on when and where to speak, and when to remain quiet and watch, paying attention to what Jesus would have me understand, about the doors He opens, and the doors He closes. I hope this will be your desire in Him as well.