The Way to Speak Colossians 4:6

As Paul the apostle began to wind down his final words to the Colossian church, he gave them some practical instructions concerning their relationships with those who were outside of the faith, and he told them to redeem their time. In chapter four and verse six, Paul continued his charges by directing his attention toward the church members' speech and ability to answer others. We read:

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt,

that you may know how you ought to answer every man.

The verse begins, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt,” Paul began with the word “Let” which means “allow, permit or grant” and continued with “your speech” or “the words used or the way you talk” “be always with grace” or “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good-will, loving kindness and favor”. He adds, “seasoned with salt” which upon first glance might seem like a strange thing to say, however it means, “speech that is sprinkle with wisdom as salt is a symbol of lasting concord, because it protects food from putrefaction and preserves it unchanged.” The idea is that wise speech will be filled with preserving words which purify the conversation or event.

The verse goes on to say, “that you may know how you ought to answer every man.” The reason the church members were to allow their speech to “be always with grace, seasoned with salt” was “that you may know” which means “perceive, see or have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to” “how you ought to answer every man” or “fulfill what is necessary, behooving, right and proper” in giving answers to others. The speech of the church members was to be gracious and seasoning so they would be able to answer anyone they encountered.

As we meditate upon Paul's words, let us take the time to think about our own speech. Is it “always with grace”? Is it always, “seasoned with salt”? The opportunities afforded to us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ may be daily, and the manner in which we speak will have an effect upon our witness of how wonderful Jesus is. As we take the time to think and pray about these things, may the Lord help us in our manner of speech, and may He refine our words so we display a powerful witness of His saving grace to others.

Next time Paul shares about a man named “Tychicus”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.