Don’t Talk About It - 7-Day Prayer GuideSample

"Not Too Much" 

By: Dante Bowe & Andrea Fisher

Scripture: Colossians 4:6

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” (Colossians 4:6, NASB)

Big idea

Occasionally, our speech can be like salt. The right amount of salt can season a meal, but too much salt can ruin it all. For this reason, in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he uses the metaphor of salt to illustrate how Christians should speak to each other. Salt, in Paul’s era, was valuable. It was so treasured that it could be used as currency or money. It was appreciated for its ability to preserve and flavor food. In that regard, Paul's metaphor reveals that a Christian's speech should be valuable, and "flavored" differently from a non-believer. However, Paul’s metaphor had more than one meaning because, in Paul’s time, salt also kept the meat from spoiling. 

To the world, the gospel that we all say we love will be spoiled if our words to one another are unsavory and unpleasant. Following the commands of Christianity, preaching, teaching, praying, and biblical knowledge will be meaningless if they prevent us from reaching as many people as possible because our words have not preserved the message of Christ. Paul was reminding us that what we say can destroy our witness. Your words should add value to the conversation, and benefit and esteem others (Eph. 4:29). Your words should indicate that you value God’s Word because Christ is communicated through a transformed Christian life and a positive presentation of the gospel. To answer the world as Christ would, you must present truth using God’s words and a God-like attitude. 

Reflection

We should desire wisdom from the Scripture to be wise in our response to God’s voice and our response to others so that our words and actions are flavored with salt and honor God.

Personal reflection

This week consult God on all that you think, do, and say. For example, “God, is what I am about to say seasoned with salt?” “God is this what I should do, think, or believe?”

Prayer

Dear Lord, show me how to desire your wisdom and voice so that nothing that comes out of my mouth will be unsavory and spoiled. Let grace correspond with my speech. May my words be seasoned with salt, pure and incorruptible.