Colossians 4:6 - Speaking with Grace Seasoned with Salt.
Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) Let your speech always
be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may
know how you ought to answer each one.
Colossians 4:6 (EAV) Let your speech at all
times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned
[as it were] with salt, [so that you may never
be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer
anyone [who puts a question to you].
WORD STUDY
With Grace. To speak what is spiritual,
wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful,
complimentary, gentle, truthful, loving, and thoughtful.
[MacArthur Daily Bible 2003]
Seasoned With Salt. Just as salt not only
flavors but prevents corruption, the Christian's
speech should act not only as a blessing to others
but as a purifying influence within the decaying
society of the world. [MacArthur Daily Bible 2003]
INTRODUCTION
Conversations about our faith are worthwhile
when we are gracious. Our words are important
because we are representatives of Christ. When we
tell others about Christ, it is important always
to be gracious in what we say. No matter how
much sense the message makes, we lose our
effectiveness if we are not courteous. Just as we like to
be respected, we must respect others if we want
them to listen to what we have to say. "Seasoned
with salt" means that what we say should be
"tasty" and should encourage further dialogue.
[Life Application SB]
Salt renders food palatable. Here it is that
which makes speech attractive, stimulating, and
agreeable to listen to.... When the Christian opens
his mouth, pleasant, helpful, edifying words
should flow forth. [SDA Bible Commentary]
The words of the Christian should carry with
them the power and influence of Heaven. [SDA
Bible Commentary]
COMMENTARY PEARL
"Do you have a driver's license for that
thing? Ha! Ha!" My wheelchair elicits lots of
comments. I'm surprised how many people initiate
communication with me. I really don't mind. In fact, I
love it. Usually the ambassador of Christ is the
one who must jumpstart conversations, hoping to
engage the interest of the other. That's hardly the
case with me. The wheelchair does the
"initiating." I merely sit back and respond.
People don't expect me to look happy
sitting in a wheelchair. Saying "I have a reason for
living" in response to their remarks about my
singing or my smile always evokes a curious look.
That's when I add, "Jesus has blessed me! By the
way, what's your reason for living?" Sure it
catches people off guard, sometimes delighting them,
sometimes making them curious, and sometimes sending
them running for the nearest exit. But one
thing's for certain..., it's got them thinking!
The truth is I've never heard of one
certain style of giving the Gospel that was a
sure-fire success. I've learned that it has a lot more
to do with the Holy Spirit's work in a person's
heart than it does with a certain tool or
technique. And so we do the best we can, grabbing a bit
of opportunity here, nurturing a conversation
there, sprinkling it with prayer, seasoning it with
our testimony... and leaving the results to
God.
My friend, quit looking for a
"guaranteed" method of sharing the Gospel. Just ask the
Holy Spirit to fill you, and tell him you're
ready and available to touch the life of another.
Then start sprinkling the conversational salt!
Believe me, thirsty souls will be drawn to the
Living Water.
Father, please bring a prepared, hungry
heart across my path today. Put a smile on my
face, a song in my heart, and fill my mouth with
words that will open a padlocked heart. [Joni
Eareckson Tada Daily Devotional:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional]
COMMENTARY
"The mouth speaks what the heart is full
of" (Luke 6:45). We can't claim our hearts are
kind if our words are unkind. We can't claim our
hearts embrace heaven's values if our mouths
profess the world's values. The heart is a reservoir
and the mouth is a faucet. When the faucet is
turned on, whatever is in the reservoir comes out.
Paul tells us to season our speech
carefully. Elsewhere he urges us not to let any
unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but rather to
build others up according to their needs (see
Ephesians 4:29). The goal is not to filter our speech,
but to have speech that doesn't need to be
filtered. If our mouths show symptoms of discontent or
a bitter heart, we need to deal with the
problem at the deepest levels. [NIV Once A Day
Bible]
Jesus said, "Whatever is in your heart
determines what you say" (Matthew 12:34, January 18).
Now that your heart has been cleansed and
changed because of your new relationship with Jesus,
the words you say are going to change as well.
What does wise speech look like? Wise
speech is made up of words that are encouraging,
uplifting, kind, and caring. Wise speech gives good and
helpful advice. Words are wise when they are well
considered before they are spoken, or are silent when
silence is required. Words are wise when they are
filled with good motives and speak only the truth.
As you seek to please God with your
words, trust his Spirit to help you. It may take
time, so don't get discouraged. Perhaps you've
been used to gossiping, using coarse language, or
speaking harshly to others. Those habits will die
hard, but the Spirit will go to work on your
words, helping you take control of what you say and
how you say it. He will help you to use the
"wise speech" that this proverb describes. [The
One Year Bible for New Believers re Pro.16:23]
Disciplined thought and planning should
go into evangelism.... We must think about
evangelism whenever we talk with outsiders--wisely
making the most of every opportunity....
Whether with someone you're around
frequently or with someone you've met for the first
time, the best way I've found to turn the
conversation toward spiritual matters is to ask the
person how you can pray for him or her. Although
it's almost routine to the Christian, most
non-Christians don't know of anyone who is praying for
them. I've discovered that unbelievers are often
deeply moved by this unusual expression of
concern....
But the point in all these possibilities
is that you will have to discipline yourself to
bring them about. They won't just happen. You'll
have to discipline yourself to ask your neighbors
how you can pray for them or when you can share
a meal with them. You'll have to discipline
yourself to get with your coworkers during off-hours.
Many such opportunities for evangelism will never
take place if you wait for them to occur
spontaneously. The world, the flesh, and the Devil will do
their best to see to that. You, however, backed by
the invincible power of the Holy Spirit, can
make sure that these enemies of the gospel do not
win. (Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life
by Donald S. Whitney) [Inspirational SB]
For Powerful Conversation, Plan and Pray
Do you want to have a meaningful
conversation with someone? Then you need to plan, and you
need to pray. You need to say to God, "Lord,
teach me what to say, teach me when to say it, and
teach me how to say it."
Even Jesus did this.
Jesus says in John 12:49, "I have not
spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me
told me what I should say and how I should say
it" (GW). Jesus didn't just go around speaking
on his own power. He would talk to his Father,
and God told him what he should say, when he
should say it, and how he should say it.
God will do the same for you. If he
hasnt, its because you havent asked! You
havent tapped into the wisdom and power of God. You
havent taken advantage of your right as Gods
child to ask him for what you think you need and
trust him to provide what he knows you need.
You would never walk into an important
meeting unprepared. In the same way, before you have
that critical conversation with your child or
your spouse or your boss or a neighbor, you need
to plan and pray. Its the only way youre
going to get anywhere in your conversations.
"Intelligent people think before they
speak; what they say is then more persuasive
(Proverbs 16:23 GNT). In other words, if you want to
be persuasive, put your mind in gear before you
put your mouth in motion. Plan in advance what
you're going to say.
Planning your conversation gives you
perspective. You have the space to think through the
circumstances and context with a clear head. Then you can
approach your conversation with grace.
Colossians 4:6 says, "Everything you say
should be kind and well thought out" (GW).
If you'll just practice that one verse,
then you will become a master communicator. The
only way to ensure your words are kind and well
thought out is to plan ahead and pray. [Daily
Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/ re Pro.16:23]
ILLUSTRATION (repeated from above for
emphasis)
"Do you have a driver's license for that
thing? Ha! Ha!" My wheelchair elicits lots of
comments. I'm surprised how many people initiate
communication with me. I really don't mind. In fact, I
love it. Usually the ambassador of Christ is the
one who must jumpstart conversations, hoping to
engage the interest of the other. That's hardly the
case with me. The wheelchair does the
"initiating." I merely sit back and respond.
People don't expect me to look happy
sitting in a wheelchair. Saying "I have a reason for
living" in response to their remarks about my
singing or my smile always evokes a curious look.
That's when I add, "Jesus has blessed me! By the
way, what's your reason for living?" Sure it
catches people off guard, sometimes delighting them,
sometimes making them curious, and sometimes sending
them running for the nearest exit. But one
thing's for certain..., it's got them thinking!
The truth is I've never heard of one
certain style of giving the Gospel that was a
sure-fire success. I've learned that it has a lot more
to do with the Holy Spirit's work in a person's
heart than it does with a certain tool or
technique. And so we do the best we can, grabbing a bit
of opportunity here, nurturing a conversation
there, sprinkling it with prayer, seasoning it with
our testimony... and leaving the results to
God.
My friend, quit looking for a
"guaranteed" method of sharing the Gospel. Just ask the
Holy Spirit to fill you, and tell him you're
ready and available to touch the life of another.
Then start sprinkling the conversational salt!
Believe me, thirsty souls will be drawn to the
Living Water.
Father, please bring a prepared, hungry
heart across my path today. Put a smile on my
face, a song in my heart, and fill my mouth with
words that will open a padlocked heart. [Joni
Eareckson Tada Daily Devotional:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional]
TEXT FOR FURTHER STUDY
Intelligent people think before they speak;
what they say is then more persuasive. Proverbs
16:23 (GNT)
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
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