Apt Replies

“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!” (Proverbs 15:23 NIV)

"The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." (Isaiah 50: 4 KJV)

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4: 6 KJV)

We need wholesome tongues. We need knowledge in the use of our organs of speech. We need to know how to "use words aright."

There is "power" in the tongue. It can be for good or evil, and it can be either constructive or destructive, like fire.

"Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." (James 3: 4-6 KJV)

God give us wise and self-controlled tongues! May our words be used for edifying and in salvation, and not in destruction.