"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)
In this passage of his letter to the believers in The Church at Colosse, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Paul told them to be careful in the way in which they act towards and speak to outsiders. He told them that they should make every effort to interact with others in a Christ-like manner, displaying the grace of Christ, so that their behavior and their words were helpful and reflected positively on Christians.
As believers, we should speak with grace. Our words should be spiritual and wholesome (Godly), fitting and sensitive (appropriate), purposeful and complimentary (helpful), kind and gentle (considerate), truthful and thoughtful (filtered by our mind before being spoken). Our words should also be seasoned with salt. Salt adds flavor to food, but it also prevents corruption. It was used to prevent the bacterial contamination of meat before refrigeration in days of old. Salt is a purifying influence in a decaying world. Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth. (Matthew 5:13) As believers, we should know how to, and be ready to answer people. To do this we must read and study The Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:15) Then, after we hear and read The Word of God, we must be doers of The Word. (James 1:22) We must live in such a way that our Christian beliefs and our behavior are consistent. Let us pray that God will use us to add a Christ-like flavor to this sin-sick world, and that He will use us to be a purifying influence in this decaying world.
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