Seasoned with Salt

Colossians 4:2-6.

I recall my first meeting as a student back in Edinburgh with my program leader. I walked into his office and greeted him. And he responded ‘...Are you Nigerian? It's the way you bowed your head when you said Good morning.’

There's something about culture that's very central to uniquely identifying people. Some core aspects of culture are part of who we are to everyone. Very obvious ones are language and accent.

Paul in writing to a young growing church in Colossae encourages them on Christian living:

Be ‘devoted’ to Prayer - commit to prayer, be watchful (i.e. alert to the things of the Spirit) and thankful. (v2-4)
Be ‘wise’ in how you live - so that your life can be a signpost to draw people to God. (v5; Matthew 5:16)
Be ‘graceful’ in speech ... towards everyone (v6). So this is not just an evangelistic aim. Rather, this is like the Christian language.

Graceful in speech is how a Believer (one born in Christ) is meant to speak at all times, it's our culture - our accent, our language. One that is:

Always full of grace (6).

The way we speak as believers ought to always reveal something of Christ's character - wholesome, gracious, loving, gentle words. Ephesians 4:15, 29.

Seasoned with salt (6).

As believers, our words are powerful and effective. Like salt, it needs to always have positive effects (and never lose it, Matthew 5:13) - healing, correcting, purifying. (Proverbs 16:24, 20:15). If our words are meant to be so, it does mean there are times not to speak (Proverbs 11:12).

Graceful and seasoned speech flows from; Our relationship with God and devotion to prayer (v2) - asking for the Holy Spirit's guidance. And also living wisely (v5) - to know when and how to respond.

Reflect & Pray

In what situations do you find it difficult to respond gracefully? How can you best apply Paul's encouragement?

Father by the work of the Holy Spirit, create the culture of Christ in me and help my speech to always be filled with grace and seasoned with salt, in Jesus' name.

God bless you exceedingly,
Sam.

Psalm 91: A Guaranteed Refuge 1

Psalm 91 [short series]. Psalm 91 is a commonly known Psalm that often raises doubts (e.g. Does it really apply to our present realities?), gets misinterpreted (e.g. If you trust God, no trouble will come to you) or gets undermined (e.g. It’s all a metaphor). But the message in the Psalm is such a profound encouragement to keep trusting in God because of the kind of refuge that only He can provide. As we will see in a 4 part study, the Psalm shows us why God is the only refuge you can trust (v2), and this is because: His refuge is guaranteed By His greatness: He can. v1, 11-12 By His promise: He will. v4, 14-16 His refuge is complete Through this life. v3-6, 13 Into the next life. v7-10, 16 His Refuge is guaranteed by His Greatness! Psalm 91:1, 11-12 He can always rescue! T

Psalm 91: A Complete Refuge 3

Psalm 91 [short series]. As we journey through life, sometimes we go through troubles beyond our control — an addiction, sudden financial lack, sickness, broken relationship, losing a loved one, a hope deferred. How do we navigate those seasons? Or maybe you are currently in such a season and wondering, "How do I live through this?" Previously [1] [2] , we saw that God's refuge is guaranteed. The Psalm also shows the completeness of God's refuge as a reason for how we can navigate the seasons of life. His Refuge is complete through this life! Psalm 91:3-6, 13 God rescues you from troubles beyond your reach and permanently deals with the cause of all problems, Satan himself. His refuge deals with: Sin: snare of the fowler (v3, 11-12) Snares are traps used to catch animals, often made with something enticing or luring, like a cheese trap for a

The Worshipped King

Matthew 2:1-12. Once, I was with some friends, and we saw a famous person; they all got very excited, but I did not. When they began chatting about the celebrity, they realised why I missed the excitement. Matthew presents Jesus in a famous manner that demands a response that those who know Him can not miss out on. The gospel begins by showing that the nature of Jesus' birth proves He is the one all history and prophecies point to. He is The Promised King. He is of David's lineage (Matthew 1:17, 2 Samuel 7:13). The Promised Saviour. He is the seed of a woman, i.e. not of man but of God, like the first Adam (Matthew 1:18, Genesis 3:15). The Promised Lord. He is Immanuel - God with us - Israel's God is here (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14). So the news is out that Israel's God - The Messiah King, The Saviour, The Lord - whom all generations hoped for is now here.

A Devotional Life

Search This Blog