Scripture

Our focus verse for today comes from Colossians 4:6, ” Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. “

Background

I want us to be reminded of the importance of speaking to others the way we should, especially those that do not know Christ, which is the context of today’s verse. Immediately we see the challenge, for we have enough trouble speaking well to those in our own family or within our church. Two, three or more concerns occupy our minds, and then along comes a ridiculous request or a change in our plans, and suddenly and without warning, our speech is not primed with grace. Perhaps even the exact opposite. But when dealing with those who do not know Jesus, grace is precisely what they need. They can get from anyone else a terse response or an insensitive brush off. There’s plenty of that to go around. But Jesus has changed our hearts, from which come our responses.

Application

What we say can’t be put back into our mouths, as much as we’d like it to be sometimes. That is why we must begin each day asking God to fill us with His Spirit, to consume us with His grace, that we may be a spring of hope and refreshment to those that hear us. So though we might struggle in our speech, especially with certain types of people or regarding certain subjects, our hearts are the key. We can’t share the grace of the Spirit if we aren’t overflowing with it already. And we can’t be seasoned with salt if we’re not being fed with His Word. His wisdom, the words to say that can point someone to the cross, fills you as you seek Him out in His Word. The salt that the world needs to preserve it from death is in the gospel. Our speech needs to always be with the gospel in mind. It’s always on God’s mind. It’s in every part of our life. It’s the way we ought to answer each one.

Charge

As we seek Him today, let’s be ready to speak the way He wants us to. Fill yourself with grace and salt, and then share the gospel as you ought.