As Paul wrote to the Christians in Colossae, he recognized that there is an unbreakable connection between who we are on the inside and what we say for others to hear. He named anger, rage, malice, slander, obscene language and lying as things to “set aside.” The first three are attitudes, but they inevitably show themselves in the harmful kinds of speech the apostle named in the last three items on the list.

• Scholar William Barclay said we can turn the items in this list about speech into positive commands. The first two, he said, tell us that a Christian’s speech must be KIND, and it must be PURE. How easy or hard do you find it to speak in those ways if you feel anger, rage or malice toward someone? How can we be kind in our speech even when it is necessary to make an honest appraisal of another person?
• Barclay added that a Christian’s speech must be TRUE. He noted, “It is easy to distort the truth; an alteration in the tone of voice or an eloquent look will do it; and there are silences which can be as false and misleading as any words.” In what ways can the standard of “true speech” help us avoid sweeping generalizations or statements about people’s inner motives? When have you been the receiver, or the giver, of false statements made in anger?