Are We Aware of How We Respond to Others?

During a drive home from work on this past Saturday morning, my attention was captured by a radio spot. The commercial advertised a computer program that checks e-mails as written. I am familiar with "spell check" and "grammar check," but this seemed different. The software monitors the tone and wording of e-mails to make certain they are not too aggressive, or mean spirited.

As I listened to the description, I wondered what it would be like to possess something such as that for our mouths. How many time have we reacted harshly instead of listening and later regret how we responded? Without a doubt a tone check would protect us from responding foolishly.

The apostle Paul realized the need for us as believers to monitor our speech-especially when talking to non Christians. Paul said "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one"(Col. 4:6). His primary concern was that our speech be graceful, representing the beauty of our Savior. Communicating with the correct tone to unbelievers is essential to our ability to witness to them  Colossians 4:6 can be our tone check.