Devotional 98 -His Accent

"The most important single aid to my ability to use my tongue for the glory of Jesus is allowing the word of God to dwell in me so richly that I cannot speak with any other accent."
The Power of Words and the Wonder of God  by Sinclair B. Ferguson

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
 Colossians 3:16

I have seen it--- this Christlike accent. I have seen it over and over in those around me. Those who spend time with Jesus speak with His accent. The more Christ's word dwells in you richly the more it will naturally come out of you.

I was in the kitchen with my mother-in-law (called Momo) and sister-in-law. We were helping Momo prepare one of her marvelous dinners. Neither my sister-in-law nor I were chopping or mixing the way Momo wanted, so she had to constantly correct us. My pride raised its ugly head and I walked out of the kitchen quietly, but thinking "fine, she can just do it herself!" But as I was leaving I heard my sister-in-law turn to her Mom and say, "Mom, you are such a good cook. I am here to serve you. Just tell me what to do, I want to do it your way."

I was so convicted. My sister-in-law had let the word of Christ dwell in her richly and I saw her speak with the accent of Christ. I want to be like that, don't you? To respond with thankfulness in our hearts toward God is to lose our touchiness and to live with humility.

I also see the Christlike accent in women who speak the truth even when it is unpopular. The scripture says we love when we speak the truth. We need truth telling men and women who will speak up for righteousness and call sin "sin". We have made love to mean being nice and making everyone feel good about themselves...but that is not love. That is deception and keeps some happily feeling good while on their way to hell.

So let the word of Christ dwell in you richly and you will teach and admonish with wisdom. Sometimes the accent of Christ is kindness and forgiveness, and sometimes it is warning and rebuking. May God give us the grace to know when each is needed.

Proverbs 12: 18-19 "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment."