Colossians 4:2-6
Colossians 4:2-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
Christian Graces
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
My Thoughts:
- So let’s start with (v. 2) we read “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”
- Any Christian will tell you that prayer is very important but I think there is one more thing that we tend to overlook and that is our actions. When we pray and ask God to make changes in our live, it is our prayers lead by our actions show God that we are sincere about making our changes. I like the old saying that we need to “walk to walk and talk the talk.”
- In (v. 3) we read “meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,”
- I see Paul asking the believers to pray that God will open the door for him to proclaim the gospel. He does not mind being chained as long as the word of God is not chained.
- Let’s finish with (v. 6) “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one”
- There are many examples where the Bible talks about being the salt. Jesus talks that disciples we are not to be stumbling blocks, but we are to be salt. (Mark 9:50) “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another”. In (Job 6:6) he declares, “Can something tasteless be eaten without salt?”
- Salt had many uses in Hebrew worship. The grain offering, burnt offering, and incense all had to be salted. As a sign of loyalty and friendship, salt was used to ratify covenants, including God’s Covenants with His people in the Old Testament.
- Salt purifies, cleanses, and preserves from decay, and Christ uses His disciples as agents of purification, and cleansing in the world, they were to be the salt.
Thought of the Day
IF you were to evaporate a ton of water from the Pacific Ocean, you would get approximately seventy-nine pounds of salt. A ton of Atlantic water would yield eighty-one pounds. And from the Dead Sea you would get almost five hundred pounds.
As these statistics demonstrate, the earth’s bodies of water vary greatly in their degree of saltiness. So do Christians. Jesus said that we are “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). But we all have different levels of “salt content.” A few Scripture verses tell what it means to be “salty.”
Salt enhances flavor (Job 6:6).
Salt indicates purity in speech (Colossians 4:6).
Salt symbolizes keeping a promise (Numbers 18:19).
Salt speaks of goodness (Mark 9:50).
Now, check your salt content. Are you the kind of person who enhances the lives of those around you? Is your conversation pure? Do you keep promises? Are you characterized by goodness? An unbelieving world is watching and listening to you. What do they see and hear?
Perhaps your life needs more salt. Study Jesus’ life for a pattern and rely on the Spirit for power. As you obey Christ, you will give the world a taste of a life “seasoned with salt”—and you will make people hunger and thirst for the same in their own lives. —P R Van Gorder
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- Compare (verse 3) with (2 Tim. 2:9 and Eph. 6:19-20)
- What do you think Paul meant in (v. 5)?
- What other things do you see in the text?
Prayer Activities
- Call your Partner and discuss this devotional.
- Continue to have a prayer list and continue to praying for them.
- Pray with them and ask for the following;
- For God to help you see with open eyes.
- For God to strengthen you during the tough times in your marriage
- For the individuals on your pray list.
- Let’s use (Mark 9:50) for today’s prayer verse.
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Concerning verse 5, we are to walk in wisdom toward those who are outside. There are times when we are in a position of being a bad influence and we may not be aware of this. God says the angels will be at our side, prompting us to a better course, choosing our words for us, and influencing our actions.This will silence our bad influences show a mighty power in drawing others to Christ and the heavenly world. That is from Ellen White. Of course, we have to do our part to in walking with Jesus all the time, so He can step in and help us.
I like that, thank you Rosi
All this talk of salt (which I really liked the emphasis and analogies) got me thinking what about too much salt being bad for you? I tend to cook more bland to avoid using too much salt. Where is the symbolism there? Can too much of a good thing be bad? I wonder if that would lool like America’s who appears to be a field over worked therefor producing little fruit or like Pastor’s kids, brought up in the truth yet they reject it since it’s overly farmiliar and boring….they don’t thrist after it like you would expect them to in such a “salty” enviornment. Something to think about.
I like that Paul was encouraging them to look for opportunities to share in wisdom and grace…perhaps lightly seasoned with salt.
I think is has something to do with using the right type of salt. Celtic Sea Salt is very good for you, but table salt not so much; maybe we need to feed our children better salt. When we present to them a God of love and a Sabbath about being one with Him, then we are feed good salt, when we tell our children that God does not like bad kids and tell them all they can do is sit around the house on Sabbath and read then maybe we are feeding them the wrong salt.
God has given us an amazing gift of the Sabbath and His love, and that is what we should teach others.