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How to Answer Every One - Your Daily Forward Devotional

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In The Days of the Judges

In The Days of the Judges

A Glimmer of Hope

A Glimmer of Hope

Bitter or a Believer?

Bitter or a Believer?

Great Faithfulness

Great Faithfulness

Bitter Emptiness

Bitter Emptiness

God Intended It For Good

God Intended It For Good

Getting Started...

Getting Started...

The True Vine

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The True Vine

The Way

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The Way

The Resurrection and the Life

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The Resurrection and the Life

The Good Shepherd

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The Good Shepherd

The Door

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The Door

The Bread and the Light

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The Bread and the Light

John Saw It All

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John Saw It All

Worry About Yourself

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Worry About Yourself

Count the Cost

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Count the Cost

Do You Love God?

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Do You Love God?

Jump All In

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Jump All In

Gone Fishing Again

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Gone Fishing Again

You May Have Life In His Name

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You May Have Life In His Name

The Disciple Who Believed

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The Disciple Who Believed

The Disciple Who Doubted

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The Disciple Who Doubted

APRIL - JUNE 2023
January - March 2023
October - December 2022
July - September 2022
April - June 2022
January - March 2022
October - December 2021
July - September 2021

A Prayer Warrior

  • Sep 30, 2021

A Prayer Warrior

The Faithful and the Forgiven

  • Sep 29, 2021

The Faithful and the Forgiven

We Need Each Other

  • Sep 28, 2021

We Need Each Other

How to Answer Every One

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How to Answer Every One

One Day Closer

  • Sep 25, 2021

One Day Closer

An Exemplary Prayer

  • Sep 24, 2021

An Exemplary Prayer

Who’s the Boss?

  • Sep 23, 2021

Who’s the Boss?

Who Are You Serving?

  • Sep 22, 2021

Who Are You Serving?

House Rules

  • Sep 21, 2021

House Rules

Does Scripture Oppress Women?

  • Sep 20, 2021

Does Scripture Oppress Women?

Abide In the Word

  • Sep 18, 2021

Abide In the Word

The Rule of Peace

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The Rule of Peace

Love Above All Else

  • Sep 16, 2021

Love Above All Else

Just Like Him

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Just Like Him

All Together Now

  • Sep 14, 2021

All Together Now

A Change of Character

  • Sep 13, 2021

A Change of Character

Taming Tempers and Tongues

  • Sep 11, 2021

Taming Tempers and Tongues

The Wrath of God

  • Sep 10, 2021

The Wrath of God

Christ Is Life

  • Sep 9, 2021

Christ Is Life

Home Is in Heaven

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Home Is in Heaven

Hearts Set on Heaven

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Hearts Set on Heaven

Walk Like a Christian

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Walk Like a Christian

What Motivates You?

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What Motivates You?

Spiritual Referees?

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Spiritual Referees?

Boundaries, Not Bondage

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Boundaries, Not Bondage

The Winning Team

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The Winning Team

It’s a Done Deal

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It’s a Done Deal

Dead, Buried, and Risen with Him

  • Aug 30, 2021

Dead, Buried, and Risen with Him

Off With the Old

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Off With the Old

Christ is Sufficient

  • Aug 27, 2021

Christ is Sufficient

New Knowledge or Same Old Lie?

  • Aug 26, 2021

New Knowledge or Same Old Lie?

Put Down Roots

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Put Down Roots

Don’t Fall For It

  • Aug 24, 2021

Don’t Fall For It

The Struggle Is Real

  • Aug 23, 2021

The Struggle Is Real

Making Disciples

  • Aug 21, 2021

Making Disciples

Hope For Everyone

  • Aug 20, 2021

Hope For Everyone

Suffering With Joy

  • Aug 19, 2021

Suffering With Joy

Continue in the Faith

  • Aug 18, 2021

Continue in the Faith

From Hostile to Holy

  • Aug 17, 2021

From Hostile to Holy

What A Wonderful World?

  • Aug 16, 2021

What A Wonderful World?

He’s Number One

  • Aug 14, 2021

He’s Number One

The Head of the Church

  • Aug 13, 2021

The Head of the Church

Christ and Creation

  • Aug 12, 2021

Christ and Creation

Who Is Jesus?

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Redeemed

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Redeemed

Deliverance

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Deliverance

We’ve Got the Power!

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We’ve Got the Power!

Knowledge Is Powerful

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Knowledge Is Powerful

Who Told You?

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Who Told You?

Real Hope

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Real Hope

Faith and Love

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Faith and Love

A Trustworthy Source

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A Trustworthy Source

Never Truly Alone

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Never Truly Alone

Do Your Work

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Do Your Work

Say No to Sin

  • Jul 29, 2021

Say No to Sin

What’s The Harm in Looking?

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What’s The Harm in Looking?

Seek the LORD

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Seek the LORD

Free From Failure

  • Jul 26, 2021

Free From Failure

Preach!

  • Jul 24, 2021

Preach!

Use Your Time Wisely

  • Jul 23, 2021

Use Your Time Wisely

The Right Words

  • Jul 22, 2021

The Right Words

Doing Faith Together

  • Jul 21, 2021

Doing Faith Together

Who Is on Your Invitation List?

  • Jul 20, 2021

Who Is on Your Invitation List?

How To Pray for Others

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How To Pray for Others

Head Protection

  • Jul 17, 2021

Head Protection

Forgive Yourself

  • Jul 16, 2021

Forgive Yourself

What’s Your Motive?

  • Jul 15, 2021

What’s Your Motive?

Judge Not or Judge Rightly?

  • Jul 14, 2021

Judge Not or Judge Rightly?

Never in Vain

  • Jul 13, 2021

Never in Vain

The Comfort of His Presence

  • Jul 12, 2021

The Comfort of His Presence

What’s Taking So Long?

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What’s Taking So Long?

Strength When Your Heart Melts

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Strength When Your Heart Melts

As Christ Forgave You

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As Christ Forgave You

How To Walk Faithfully

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How To Walk Faithfully

Power in Patience

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Power in Patience

Spiritual Vitamins

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Spiritual Vitamins

Right and Wrong

  • Jul 3, 2021

Right and Wrong

Created to Praise

  • Jul 2, 2021

Created to Praise

Fine-Tuned Evidence

  • Jul 1, 2021

Fine-Tuned Evidence

April - June 2021
January - March 2021
October - December 2020
July - September 2020
April - June 2020
January - March 2020
backtothebiblebttb2
Back to the BibleSep 27, 2021 6:00 am GMT

How to Answer Every One

 

September 27

 

Read Colossians 4:6 (ESV)

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

 

Reflect

According to Paul, how should we speak as new creatures in Christ?

 

In our divided world right now, it seems as if everyone has the “right” answer and we are all screaming it at each other. When we hear something we disagree with, we shut down and stop listening. We form our rebuttals before we’ve even listened to all of the reasoning of our “opponents.” And the way our culture talks to and about those they disagree with is often hostile.

 

But in today’s verse, Paul says that this shouldn’t be so with Christians. In Colossians 3, Paul said that since we died with Christ and have been made alive with Him we are new creations. He then described how we should live as new creations and today’s verse is a part of that discussion. As new creations in Christ, we shouldn’t talk like our old self. Instead, he says our speech should always be gracious.

 

Gracious speech is kind and respectful even as we stand up for the truth or address sin. Gracious speech gives the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming the worst. Paul added that our speech should be “seasoned with salt.”

 

Just the other night, I popped some popcorn and what did I do? I added just the right amount of salt to make it tastier. When we season our words with salt, we speak in good taste and with tact. That way, even when we have to speak difficult truths or disagree with someone, our words will go down easier because they have been seasoned just right.

 

The interesting thing about salt thought is that it doesn’t just make things taste better but it actually acts as a preservative. In fact, on the Oregon Trail, one of the food staples was salt pork. It was a heavily salted, fatty hunk of pork that was preserved in a barrel of brine, which is just highly salted water. But this preserved pork would not spoil as fast as fresh meat so it was an ideal meat for the long trip.

 

Likewise, our speech should act as a preservative in our relationships with others. Foul, hurtful, and harsh speech brings decay. It can destroy relationships, shut down conversations that could have been fruitful, and deeply hurts others. Hateful and careless speech causes division.

 

Last, Paul emphasized that we need to know how to answer others. Whether they ask a genuine question or an impertinent one, we should be prepared to answer. In 1 Peter 3:15-16 Peter put it this way: “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”

 

Friends, we need to be prepared to answer tough questions about our faith whether they are coming from our kids, our co-workers, our friends, or random people on the internet. We should be spending time in the Word so that we can be ready as these conversations spring up. Today, I encourage you to spend some time in the Word so that you will be prepared to answer each person. Our podcast, Hard Questions, Real Answers, is also a great resource to check out as you think through the tough questions about our faith that you might be asked.

 

But remember, our attitude, our tone of voice, and our word choice as we answer these questions is the thing that will either make or break our response. We can have all of the right answers but if we don’t speak with gracious words, seasoned with salt, no one will listen. So don’t forget to generously sprinkle on the grace in your conversations today.

 

Pray

Jesus, You were the perfect example of speaking graciously but with convicting and uncompromising truth. Help me to learn from Your example. Help me to prepare for any conversation that might come my way. Use my words to glorify You and point others to You. Amen.

 

~ Pastor Nat Crawford

 

 

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N
Natasha
2 years ago
Thank you Pastor Nat. It does hit home.
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likeReply
D
David
2 years ago
Lord Jesus, I need Your grace in order for me to have grace enough to sprinkle on my words as I break into conversing with those I love and respect. Help me to season my words with Your amazing grace before they are spoken today and always.
2
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R
Raquel
2 years ago
Amen
1
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S
Mark
2 years ago
Jesus Thank You for forgiving our sins 🙏 🙏🙏
1
likeReply
S
Mark
2 years ago
Jesus we 💞💞💞You ❣❣❣
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