Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
A good meal is always enhanced with a little salt. Whether your salt conscious or not, the requirement for salt in a diet has been well documented. Our bodies require salt to function and although too much salt can lead to problems, the spiritual connotations of being salt in an unsavory world is clearly made known.
In Paul’s letter to Colossae, he is reminding believers of the importance of evangelism. Since Paul did it so well, it is worth noting the details of what evangelism looks like. Many believers today either don’t know how to share the gospel or they don’t know where to start, maybe this focus will help give you some confidence moving forward.
Seasoning of Grace
Showing someone grace is to show someone unmerited favor, they may not earn it or deserve it but you show it anyhow.
Why do we show grace to those who may be difficult to talk to?
The Lord has shown us grace in such great measure, the least we can do is show it in small ways toward others.
Since salt enhances, the way to add salt in conversation is to take something that reflects truth and enhance it by demonstrating God’s Truth. The world has many concepts and ideas that are shadows of an underlying revelation they may not be aware of, for example: when somebody mentions the beauty of a picturesque view, the man of God recognizes God’s majesty as the key factor in what makes it wonderful . The complexity of life that is found in the small microsystems in nature show that no detail is overlooked by God. The grandiose ocean reveals His power and order, while the heavens reflect the magnitude of His reach.
Whatever aspect of life that can be observed, it can be a moment to praise to the One who brought it to life.
The beauty of the Lord is expressed in measure with everything He has touched.
Seasoning of Prayer
Colossians 4:2-3 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.”
Prayer is the seasoning of a Christ follower. Without prayer, you leave without the preparation.
Like preparing a good meal, it requires careful planning with an eye towards the execution. When considering the steps for good evangelism, prayer would be at step 1. For those who have jumped into the work of sharing the gospel, they find that prayer is mixed in throughout the process. Step 4–pray as the situation unfolds, step 7–praying together, step 10–praying about what happened. Prayer is a key ingredient for any work of God because it continually places the Lord at the forefront of any good work and any good work is from His hand.
- If you want to see opportunities for evangelism–prayer opens those doors.
- Prayer places our hearts and minds on the goal
- Prayer takes opportunities and adds value
- Prayer takes any faithful word and brings substance
You cannot be effective in the Kingdom of God if your opposed to prayer, make it a daily requirement before anything you do.
Proclamation
Psalm 40:3 “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”
The process of sharing the gospel can be dependent on the position of the listener. Some people have no idea what the gospel is, so a foundational approach is necessary without trying to overwhelm them.
*Others have a measure of understanding but are missing some key parts that bring the entire picture into focus. A few questions help bring about a better understanding to you of where they are at.
*Some think they have a broad understanding but miss the practice of understanding of how to apply God’s principles. Personally, I have noticed that without this application you are only left with a whole lot of head knowledge but fall short on how to live it out.
*The difficult ones are those who have learned a lot of scripture, even memorized sizeable portions but have twisted it into a form that bears very little resemblance to its intended message. Fundamentally, a false understanding of Jesus is at the center of much heresy and with this erroneous grasp, it tends to erode their understanding of the rest of scripture as well.
*To some, the light comes on with a correct portrayal of God’s Word. Some are heartbroken at the revelation of Truth and tears of repentance reveal their sincerity, while others grow harder and more bitter in their desire to formulate their own understanding.
If you want to know whether your proclamation is truly biblical you can gauge your listeners response. The hearer will walk away with an understanding of their guilt and need for grace, Jesus will be edified, and either a hunger for more of the Word will become present or at the least a knowledge of sin becomes more apparent in the rebellious.
Acting Wisely
Jeremiah 9:12 “Who is the wise man who may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD has spoken, that he may declare it? Why does the land perish and burn up like a wilderness, so that no one can pass through?”
The law of the Lord is found on the lips of the wise. If you want to be wise in evangelism, do it the way Jesus did. This world of darkness is like a barren wilderness and you hold the keys to life.
People who don’t know the Lord are inherently self-righteous. Ask them if they are good and they will describe the things they think they’ve done which are noteworthy. If someone declares that they are not good, it’s usually because they are practicing lawlessness and recognize their ways as evil. Helping these people understand why it’s evil is a good first step in explaining what the solution is to judgement. According to God law, all have sinned and fall short.(Rom. 3:23) Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe. (Rom. 10:4)
Understanding how someone responds to the gospel is key in knowing which way to take it. Being a good listener is vital in showing others love.
True Work
Nehemiah 9:20 “You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths, and You gave them water for their thirst.”
Remember, no matter how inept you think you are, it is a willing spirit the Lord can use. No one is perfect (except for the Lord), therefore no one is perfect at sharing the gospel. Praise be to God, He doesn’t leave it up to us to save people, that is His department.
A good motto is: “Do your best, let God take care of the rest.”
Grow in your understanding of scripture, memorize it, discuss it with other believers, and develop a greater appreciation for it’s depth and power. When you relate God’s truth without error, you share power that is not your own.
Ultimately, it is the Lord who calls, saves, sanctifies, and purifies a people for His own.
Your job is to be a witness of His glory.
Being a witness for the gospel is to bring the savor of God into a world that lacks any flavor. Your life is a testimony, your word can be a testimony, and ultimately Jesus in you is your testimony to others.
Draw near to Jesus and people will see Him and know.
U.T. 