Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

The things I say...I just say too much. And much of it comes out wrong. It sounds OK to me, but sometimes the things I say don't quite have the right effect.

My speech is not always gracious. Let me rephrase. My speech is almost always NOT gracious. It just doesn't come natural. I have to work and think hard at it.

Paul says our speech should be seasoned with salt. In the right amount, salt adds flavor. Too much salt will choke a person.

I think we go to opposite extremes.

Sometimes we don't say enough. Someone loses a loved one and we stay away and don't express ourselves to them. We don't know what to say, so we don't say anything. Someone is making bad decisions or needs a helping hand and we keep quiet. No salt there. Bland. No flavor.

Sometimes we say too much. We criticize a person's faults. We tell them every time they are wrong. Too much salt. It chokes them to death. It makes them gag. They can't get down everything we are saying. It's too salty.

So, don't forget to salt your words a little. You don't want to be bland! But don't put on too much. You don't want to choke anyone, do you? Just the right amount of salt will make others thirsty for more Jesus, the Living Water!

Colossians 4:5

Colossians 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

The word translated as "conduct" is the Greek word "peripateo." It literally means "to walk." In Matthew 11:5, Jesus literally made the lame walk.

But it also has a figurative meaning, such as when the Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders," Mark 7:5. They were using the word to indicate a way of living.

The elite have their own walk. Jesus warned us of them. "Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; " Luke 20:46

How should we walk?

In newness of life. Romans 6:4
Not after the flesh Romans 8:1
By faith, not by sight 2 Cor. 5:7
In the Spirit Gal. 5:16
Not in vanity Eph 4:17
In love Eph 5:2
As children of light Eph 5:8
Worthy of the Lord Col 1:10
In Christ Col 2:6
As Jesus walked 1 John 2:6

A tremendous amount of the Bible is devoted to teaching us how to "walk the walk" of Christ. Does this mean that God thinks our "peripateo," our walk, is important? I think so.

So let us conduct ourselves with wisdom, particularly with regard to those outside the Church. Don't let them use you as an excuse! Make the most of opportunities God gives you to walk as Jesus walked.

Colossians 4:3-4

Colossians 4:3 At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4:4 Pray that I may make it known as I should.

The word that stands out is mystery. What is this mystery?

From the beginning God allowed mankind to go his own way. We have been free to choose good or evil. For the most part, we have chosen evil. This comes with a price. Sin and death plague us.

But God had special mercy on one group: Israel.

His promises originally belonged to them, but they rejected (for the most part) the One whom God sent to save them.

As a result, they have become partially hardened. The hardening of Israel continues today. By and large, they have rejected Jesus.

As a result, God's promises were offered to the Gentiles until the full number has come in. What does that mean? God has a number of Gentiles that will be saved.

What next? After the full number of Gentiles comes in, the partial hardening of Israel will be lifted and Israel will return to God, through faith in Jesus Christ.

We were formerly disobedient, but have received mercy. Israel, disobedient as well, will receive mercy once again.
So the mystery, is this...God has opened the Gospel to the world. Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely! See Romans 11 for details.

Colossians 4:2

Colossians 4:2 Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.

Paul is giving final instructions for this letter. He has given much doctrine and now he gives practical assignments.

First is prayer. We should be steadfast in our prayer, persevering and not fainting.

It is a strange thing that God hears our prayers. How can He fulfill age-old prophecies, make destinies come to pass just as predicted and at the same time, hear and answer every prayer that is lifted up by His children? The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write that we should be devoted to prayer. We don't have to understand it or explain it. We just need to devote ourselves to it.

But there is a balancing act. As we pray, we must also watch, keeping alert. How? Pray with one eye open? Paul wants us to balance prayer with action. J. Vernon McGee tells of a farmer who prayed for his corn crop, but said Amen with his hoe! That is a good balance of prayer and action!

How should we pray? With thanksgiving. Too often, we present God with a never-ending list of our wants and needs, never stopping to thank Him when we receive. We are never satisfied. As soon as we get one thing crossed off our list, we start asking for the next thing.

Prayerful yet alert. Child-like in our dependence on Him yet full of wisdom when we thank Him for what He provides.

Contradictory? It's the balanced Christian life.