DEC 18

Colossians 4:6
Memorise Colossians 4:6
“…alway with grace, seasoned with salt…”

Paul continues in Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” In the previous verse Paul talked about the Christian’s conduct towards unbelievers; now he focuses on the Christian’s conversation (“speech”) with them. In our conversation, we must always remember that we are sinners saved by grace, and not be like the Pharisees, who have a holier than thou attitude. To have your conversation seasoned with salt is to have a conversation that is different from the world, yet profitable to the listener. Salt in those days (as it is now) was an important additive to food to make it flavorful and palatable. Without salt, many foods would be tasteless and people would not want to eat it. Speech seasoned with salt is one that is useful and brings benefit to the hearer. The greatest benefit one can bring to an unbeliever is Christ. The unbeliever may pose questions, and the Christian must answer in a manner that points the unbeliever to Christ as the answer. To give such ‘salty’ answers thus requires the Christian both to know God’s Word well, as well as have the wisdom to apply it to the specific question and situation asked.

That is why it is not enough to have good Christian conduct; we must pray for God to give us the opportunity to share the gospel, and when the opportunity emerges, to do so with grace and profit. I remembered some years ago, I was praying for salvation of a teen, and was waiting upon the Lord to give me the opportunity to share the gospel with her. We had conversed before on other day to day topics, so she already did feel comfortable talking to me, but we had not yet talked about the gospel. Then one Lord’s Day God caused her to sit next to me in the sanctuary. While we were listening to the message I noticed she was silently shedding tears. I silently prayed for wisdom. I waited till the end of the service, and then gently asked if she would like to talk to me. She said yes, and then shared that the message had pricked her and made her realise that she was unsaved. I shared with her that I had been praying for God’s timing, and shared with her the gospel, and clarified her doubts. She accepted Christ as her personal Saviour that hour; all praise and glory to Him.

Thought: Is my conversation filled with words of grace or graceless words?
Prayer: May I learn to speak with grace and to the profit of others.