July 7: Proverbs 12:18; Proverbs 25:11–12; Jeremiah 15:19; Malachi 3:16; Matthew 12:35; Matthew 12:37; 2 Corinthians 8:7; Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6; Psalm 26:3; Psalm 145:8; Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:35–36; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 4:32–5:2; 1 Peter 1:22 - a podcast by Crossway

Let your speech always be gracious.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.—Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.—“The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil…. By your words you will be justified.”—The tongue of the wise brings healing.

Those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.

“If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth.”— But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness,… see that you excel in this act of grace also.

Proverbs 12:18 (Listen)

18   There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

(ESV)

Proverbs 25:11–12 (Listen)

11   A word fitly spoken
    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
12   Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
    is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

(ESV)

Jeremiah 15:19 (Listen)

19   Therefore thus says the LORD:
  “If you return, I will restore you,
    and you shall stand before me.
  If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
    you shall be as my mouth.
  They shall turn to you,
    but you shall not turn to them.

(ESV)

Malachi 3:16 (Listen)

The Book of Remembrance

16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.

(ESV)

Matthew 12:35 (Listen)

35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

(ESV)

Matthew 12:37 (Listen)

37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

(ESV)

2 Corinthians 8:7 (Listen)

7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you¹—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

(ESV)

Ephesians 4:29 (Listen)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

(ESV)

Colossians 4:6 (Listen)

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

(ESV)

Your steadfast love is before my eyes.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.—“Your Father who is in heaven… makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.—Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.—Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.—The love of Christ controls us.

“Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Psalm 26:3 (Listen)

3   For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
    and I walk in your faithfulness.

(ESV)

Psalm 145:8 (Listen)

8   The LORD is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

(ESV)

Matthew 5:45 (Listen)

45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

(ESV)

Luke 6:35–36 (Listen)

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

(ESV)

2 Corinthians 5:14 (Listen)

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

(ESV)

Ephesians 4:32–5:2 (Listen)

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

(ESV)

1 Peter 1:22 (Listen)

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

(ESV)