Ephesians 4:29 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. 

This is one of my favorite pictures that scripture gives us of a changed heart. Where there was once corrupting talk (unclean speech, cursing, unloving and unkind speech), we are now called to use our mouths to build up others.

Saying to “let no corrupting talk come out of [our] mouths” implies that we don’t have to allow that kind of speech to make its way out of our mouths. In Christ, we have the power to stop the negative (corrupting talk) and, instead, release the positive (speech that build others up and gives grace to those listening.)

This scripture is first cousin to v. 28 in the same chapter: ^“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.” This is transformation, moving from the sinful use of our hands to working positively with those same hands with the ultimate purpose of sharing the fruit of the hands’ work.

It’s the same principle with our mouths. Where we used to sin with our mouths (complaining, gossiping, being unkind and unloving), now in Christ we can give place to His loving heart working through us. It’s clear that God’s intention is that our mouths should provide grace to those who hear what we say. That grace isn’t found in us, but in God, and the expression of that grace comes when we see that His lovingkindness is rightthere (as they say), if we press into the Lord and “let” His love for others find its way into our hearts and out of our mouths.

Today’s culture tends to view self-expression as the highest use of our ability to speak. We’re told to be true to ourselves and authentic in every way we can. But if we’re in Christ, our true selves are not found in ourselves, but in Him, and becoming more authentic is allowing the Lord to continually show us who we are—our real and true selves. When we connect with who we really are, His grace runs right through us and out of our mouths, building up others in the process.

Colossians 3:3 says “…you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” If that’s the case, then we need to keep pressing into God to become our true, authentic selves. As we do, we come to realize that our verbal expressions shouldn’t come from our minds and hearts, but from His grace-filled and loving nature.