WORDS MATTER
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 (NIV)
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Matthew 5:13 (NIV)
I think many of us have had conversations in which the other person speaks to us in a harsh or frustrating manner. I don’t typically look forward to going back into those conversations. However, I feel I can be more transparent with someone who shows me grace. How can I let my conversation be full of grace?
Possibly, it includes thinking of the person I’m talking with as more important than myself (Philippians 2:3-4). Maybe it’s being more interested in what’s happening with the other person than what’s happening with me. Or maybe it’s showing kindness in the way I talk with someone.
But how do I season my words with salt so that I know how to answer everyone?
I like to eat food that has some salt on it. French fries, potato chips, tortilla chips, popcorn, even watermelon—what am I doing to myself right now?! Time for a snack! I think a little bit of salt makes things taste better and sometimes makes me want to eat a little bit more. During biblical times, and even some today, salt was used as a preservative to prevent the decay of food. Salt is a food enhancer—either improving the taste or prolonging the freshness of our food.
I believe our words are seasoned with salt when our thoughts are marinated in the Spirit and Word of God. When we ask the Spirit of God what He wants us to know and read the Bible to know God better, we add salty thoughts to our conversation with the Spirit of God. Jesus describes the Word of the Spirit of God as life (John 6:63).
We become the salt of the earth when we have the Spirit of God living inside of us. We can share that saltiness, that life enhancer when we allow the Spirit of God to speak to and through us. What’s inside our hearts and minds eventually shows in our speech (Matthew 12:35). Our words will bring life to those around us as we invite God’s Spirit to speak to us personally through His written Word and in our minds as we seek Him.
APPLICATION: Ask God to show you how you might speak in an uplifting way to someone today.
PRAYER: Father, put Your thoughts on what You want me to know in my mind today. Fill my mind with Your written Word and Your love so my words may speak life to those around me.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?