Walk, then Talk
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.
Colossians 4:5-6 (esv)
A casual stroll through any urban city nowadays will show many people walking around having a staring contest with their mobile phone screens. Our connected culture has us mostly concerned with checking in with our social circles, and even as a way to avoid awkward encounters with strangers in public.
As Paul concludes his letter to the Colossians, he instructs them to be wise in their walk, especially as it relates to outsiders of the faith, making every opportunity to engage and share the message of Christ. Being wise in our walk means we conduct ourselves in a God honoring way as we go about our daily routines. As we live with Christ on display, we should be actively seeking opportunities to engage others instead of being lost in our own worries and fears, or the screens of our phones.
Paul then says that as we do find opportunities to engage, let it be in gracious way; not judgmental, but kind and humble. Our words should also be seasoned with salt. Salt has the effect of preserving meat and also exposing the flavor, whether good or bad. Our presentation of the gospel should preserve its true message, and expose the shortcomings of those without Christ and thereby our need for Him.
Sometimes we opt to be silent witnesses for Christ in the way we try to live a righteous life, hoping others will be changed by what they see in us. For others we are found quoting scripture every chance we get, only to live a life that doesn’t quite add up to what we are saying. Paul makes it clear we need to both walk in the way Jesus calls us to live, but also have the courage to talk to others about Him, just like Paul and Jesus himself did!
-AH
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