"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person" (Colossians 4:6, NASB).
It is pretty amazing how even a dash of salt can help a meal's flavors come alive. Salt also acts as a perservative for food. Much like salt to a meal, one element that is a key part of God's makeup is grace. It reveals the goodness and purity in Him. In Colossians 4:6, believers are encouraged to live out the grace God has shown us. This is the same grace that He offers others.
Consider salt that is mixed with other elements. In Biblical times, it is known that salt from the Dead Sea was mixed and sold with other impurities. It wasn't pure sodium, which gave it less flavor and made it generally less favorable. Disciples who lose their saltiness (grace) are not as effective witnesses of Christ as they could be. We can pray that when we speak, God helps us do so with grace, so others can see more of Christ, the One we love, serve and testify.
Do you remember a time when you were caught up in sin or a tough situation?
How did God help you out of it, or how did He walk you through it?
Let's remember to show others the kindness of Christ that drew us to Him. Also, let's pray for those who don't know Christ yet.
Lord, thank You for your grace. Help us be aware of our speech, and help us speak with the grace You show us. Father God, equip us to be outstanding witnesses for who You are. Help others on our mind, ones that don't know You, embrace the grace You offer through Your Son. Amen.
"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4, NASB).
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24, NASB).
Check out an acousitc cover of the song "Kindness" by Chris Tomlin, sung live by Greyson Sawyer
here on YouTube. You can hear Chris Tomlin's version on YouTube
here.
Study based on the workbook
HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Researched with the help of Stephanie Carey.
Photo from
www.naturaltherapypages.co.uk.
Dr. Tim Beougher, in his booklet Overcoming Walls of Witnessing, shares a true story about a pastor in the 1800's in Boston named John Vassar. He was going door to door to invite people to church. When he went up to the house right across the street from the church and knocked on the door, the lady of the house angrily opened the door and told him not to ever come to her house to talk about religion. Vassar was so heart-broken at the woman's hard heart that he just wept on her front door steps.
