Grace-Filled Saltiness

In Christ We Have Been Set Free From Sin,
Death, And The Power of The Devil

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (Col 4:5-6 KJV)

Being a bit salty is not a bad thing! But, being too salty without any grace can be a very bad thing! Usually the latter means a personal agenda is being relayed rather then the unbiased truth.

There was a time when being salty meant speaking the truth and living by it.  It meant being unpretentious; being yourself and true to your calling. Sometimes that saltiness bothered people who would prefer that everyone live by the acceptable standards the world had set. They were not willing to accept anything the they deemed the slightest bit eccentric. Today being salty means something more akin to being nasty and disrespectful. That, I think, could be because today when someone is salty they leave out any grace. There is no kindness in the way they present what they perceive to be the truth to others. 

When we speak the truth or live it, we may appear to be a bit salty to others so it is imperative that our speech and our actions always also be filled with grace so that the truth, which can definitely be a bit salty to those who hear it will actually be heard or seen. When we speak the truth to those who are not of the family of God we must speak it with gentleness; not shouting at or belittling others. They will shut you down and refuse to digest anything that you might say because of the overdose of salt we are dishing them out.

I have been worshipping with a congregation that has been being led by a grace-filled; yet, salty pastor. Brother Asa speaks the truth; gracefully, gently yet firmly with a bit of salt reminding us that we are all sinners in need of redemption and then full on grace.... in Christ we are forgiven our sins. 

Paul wrote to the Colossians that their speech should be seasoned with salt; but, always with grace. Be too salty and people get offended. 

May God grant us the wisdom to know how much salt we should or should not use to season our conversations with others.

God's Peace - Pr. J