Colossians 4:2-6
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Have you ever thought about what your last words would be? When performers leave, they want to leave their audiences wanting more. "End on a high note" is what they always say. The idea being, you save your best stuff for last.
Paul's benediction to the church in Colossus is some of his best stuff, in my opinion. Even though it is not the last thing Paul writes to the church, verse six carries a lot of weight. We are surely familiar with Jesus' saying in Matthew 5:13, ""You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." However, we are less likely to remember what Leviticus 2:13 says, "Season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not leave the salt of the covenant of your God out of your grain offerings; add salt to all your offerings."
Everything we do is to be an offering. Our gifts to God, our words to others, our lives lived in which we share what we have. As the first offerings we give to God are to be seasoned with salt, we are to hold nothing back. When we pray, serve, love, and do for others, we are not just to "pepper" it with salt. We are not simply to season life with a dash or a sprinkle, but we are to give what we have and who we are to the one who gave everything for us.
Prayer: Loving God, let our lives be lived this day and everyday as a pleasing and acceptable offering in your sight. Amen.
G. Thomas Martin