Seasoned With Salt

It is no fun for someone to say unkind things to us or to someone that we deeply care about. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of such a scenario is not listening to it, but rather keeping ourselves in check and making sure we don't bite back. Boy, do I ever struggle with this!

Jesus found Himself in similar situations often throughout His ministry. Sometimes He responded with questions of His own. Sometimes He had a direct answer. And sometimes He chose to say nothing at all. And the only conclusion we can draw is that however He responded, He did it without sinning (Hebrews 4:15) and therefore left for us the perfect example. Obviously God wants us to follow Christ's example (1 Corinthians 11:1). Jesus Himself reminds us that part of what characterizes those who belong to His kingdom is serving others as lights and salt in the world (Matthew 5:15).

Paul in his letter to the Colossians gives us a tremendous charge:

"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" (Colossians 4:5-6).

What is the purpose of salt? We have all heard before how it preserves, purifies, and enhances. That is one lesson here about the effect our speech ought to have on others. I remember one day as a child, I was with my step dad feeding our cows and I pointed to a salt block and asked him what that was. After telling me it was a salt block, I then preceded to ask him why it was there. He told me it was to make the cows thirsty so they would drink water. Does our speech, which is supposed to be seasoned with salt, make others thirst for God?

Also, notice, Paul says to let our speech ALWAYS be this way; not just when it is convenient. But even when we are not treated in the same way. This is an example of why I believe that it can be really difficult to be a Christian at times. But in reality, instead of griping about being in fishbowls, we should accept with gladness the fact that we should be held to a higher standard. The reward is great. Not only in that we have a heavenly home to look forward to, but what a great sense of peace and security it can be to walk in this life, knowing we are hand in hand with Jesus, and not allowing the world to negatively affect us!

Please pray for me that I will do a better job with this; accepting the fact that I am held to a higher standard as a child of God.