Colossians 4:5-6 English Standard Version

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

We walk with Jesus and towards those outside the body of Christ whom we encounter because He is seeking more and more of His bride to be. We do not know which ones will accept the gospel message but He does. It is wisdom on our part that does not frighten them away.

Ephesians 2:8 English Standard Version (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Grace is often taught as an unmerited favor. If we lead with that thought, the mind of those outside Christ, those who have been told to earn their way in the world, they will not connect their sinful condition with the free will offering that Christ made. They are looking for a way to earn salvation, if they even think it is possible.

Wisdom asks those outside the body of Christ what they think about what they have heard about Christ. It is our part to dispel half truths and lies, to speak truth in love. Those who are lost will question why we are making an offer of salvation that we do not control.

How we answer each person has to begin with listening to them and to get them talking we must first endear ourselves to them in order to allow them the freedom to express their minds, doubts and fears.

How can we season our speech so that it makes our words acceptable? Judgment must be removed and replaced with understanding. That takes us back to a place we ourselves have been, searching for something more than what we had at the time. Make the connection with the pre-salvation conditions that led us to accept the free gift.

We were no different than they are now. So what changed in us that will give hope to them that their unhappiness can be turned to joy? 

People will open up about what is right in their lives before they become honest about those things that make them uncomfortable with themselves. They will not open up to us until they feel they can trust us with that information. That takes time.

The first century church was looking for Christ to return immediately. Nearly 2000 years later we might feel exactly the same but we must not allow those feelings of urgency to sour our speech. Season our speech with grace, which is more than just unmerited favor.

Lamentations 3:40-41 English Standard Version

40 Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! 41 Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven:

In the midst of some rather heavy lamentations we find some sound advice. The Word can be like that, hiding sound advice in the middle of some troublesome texts. It is an encouragement to keep reading.

Test our ways. If we are following Jesus we should be walking in the Way. We are Way Followers. This is not a walk of blind faith, we need to test the ground upon which we stand. Is it solid rock we stand upon according to His Word or have we continued to forge ahead without looking to see if the Lord has stopped to accomplish something, or turned? 

Examine our Way is a need to test ourselves again His Word. That is a daily examination like those who are lost checking a map to make sure we know where we are and need to adjust our course if necessary.

Hearts and hands seem to be easily understood, Love and action according to God’s plan for us. They are signs of worshiping God in spirit and truth.

The fact that this good advice is found in the midst of lamentations should remind us of the times we are currently enduring. Lamenting over what is happening in our cities, country and world will not change anything.

Love and obedience of faith have been the proven grounds upon which to stand.

We cannot stop what is foretold, we can only witness the love that changed us from sinners to saved by grace.