Grace and Salt

Video Talk

 

Colossians 4:2-6 ESV

 

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

 

These are specific instructions given by Paul to the Colossian Christians, but they can apply to us, as well, perhaps in some areas in a more general sense, such as we do not need to pray for Paul, obviously, since he is deceased, but we should pray for everyone who is sharing the truth of the gospel of our salvation, especially for those we know who are doing this full time. And we should pray that we all should make the gospel message clear, and in its fulness, and in truth, which is how we ought to speak.

 

And we should continue steadfastly in prayer, which means we should be in a continual attitude of prayer, always ready to hear from the Lord, and always ready to speak to him about things going on in our lives or to give our prayer requests or to inquire of him about anything or to give thanks to him, etc. So this isn’t just about formal times of prayer, but these prayers can be given while we are driving down the street or walking in a park or while we are washing dishes or clothes, or while we are cooking a meal, etc.

 

And we are to walk in wisdom toward outsiders and in everything that we do and say, being watchful and careful to make certain that how we are living and what we are speaking are for the glory of God and not for the glory of the flesh. And we should all be making the best use of our time, not wasting away our spare time on the junk of this world but using our time for the glory of God and for sharing the gospel and for loving other people. And this is not saying we can’t relax, we can, but just use wisdom in all you do.

 

And when it says here to let our speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that we may know how we ought to answer other people, this is not suggesting that we compromise the truth of the gospel in any way in order to not offend other humans. For God’s grace teaches us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return (see Titus 2:11-14). And he prepares us and preserves us to walk in his love and grace, and not in sin.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EcxclTUHIk

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Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

 

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

 

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

 

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

 

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

 

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

 

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg

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