“Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!”

The right word, at the wrong time, is many times as bad as the wrong word at any time.  Why is this?  More often or not it is because the one delivering the word is not at all in-tune with the emotions or the environment of the one receiving the word. We’ve all been there.  We’ve delivered what we thought was a good word only to have it rejected because the receiver wasn’t ready to receive.  In sports the coach usually calls a time-out, if for no other reason to have the undivided attention of the those who need to hear.  We  don’t always get that luxury and we may be delivering a message over the phone, on email, or texting across time zones, but regardless, we will be better at the “fitting” part of our words and replies.

I love God’s Word.  If for no other reason, our life direction can be set through the teachings and lessons that are given to us.  Jesus seemed to always have the right word, at the right time and for even those who weren’t ready to receive, He had a way of recognizing that through empathy always bringing the context back to something that others could relate and be important to them. So, that is our challenge as we try to find a way to bring God’s Word to others with whom we work and live.  Speaking to others in a way that is “fitting” is what we can ask God to assist and a way for us to grow in our representation of Him.

Reference: Proverbs 15:23 (New Living Translation)