We live in a world that esteems the quick comeback and the snarky remark.  We tend to prize great zingers and cutting putdowns and, yet, we are told in the verse above that, as Christians, we are to make an effort to have the “right response for everyone.”  Specifically, we are told to make sure that our conversations with others are “attractive” and filled with grace.

Something absolutely amazing happens when we start trying to speak to others in this way.  When we choose to speak with grace to or about others, instead of sarcasm, harsh criticism or judgment, God moves in our own hearts and starts to change us.  Not only does our speech start to become more attractive but we start to become more attractive people.

Just as people push beyond their own thoughts and own way of thinking by praying for, and working towards having, “the mind of Christ”, we can also push beyond our own words and ways of speech and ask Christ to give us His words for others.

Of course, this isn’t something that comes to us naturally at first.  It takes some effort to retrain ourselves in this regard but the benefits are potentially life-changing for ourselves and our hearers.