Today’s devotion comes from Colossians 4:5-6.
“5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” Colossians 4:5-6.
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There are times when we should be careful and not discuss spiritual things with outsiders. “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6
But, that silence should be “the exception, not the rule”. Verse 5, ending with “making the most of the opportunity” and verse 6 in its totality combine to urge us to say something appropriate, particularly in response, with grace and “as though seasoned with salt”.
1 Peter 3:15
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”
“but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”
We can easily nod our head in approval to the foregoing verse. We may think that the outsiders are seekers, and we may think that we just need to answer their sincere questions.
But, the context of above-stated 1 Peter 3:15 shows that the outsiders may not be so innocent and searching. Here is the context of the two surrounding verses. “But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, … and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.” 1 Peter 3:14 and 16. Outsiders may be slandering us and otherwise persecuting us.
Whether the outsiders are “innocent and searching” or “slandering and persecuting”, we need to conduct ourselves with wisdom toward them and we need our speech to “always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt”.
What are some examples of that grace?
First of all, that grace would be honest. We should not misquote nor exaggerate nor set up “straw men” in our debates with them nor make caricatures of them. Oh, how I need to follow my own advice when dealing with Arminians!
Second, that grace would be patient. We tend to hold ourselves and our beliefs in too high esteem, thinking that outsiders should immediately change their long-held beliefs and engrained behaviors after a few words by us. We may never see the change, but we may plant the seed.
Third, that grace would be gentle, kind, and good. Regardless of whether we win the argument, we need to be gentle, kind, and good. Even if we can’t get the outsider to change the root cause of the problem, we may be able to treat the symptoms. “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1
What are some examples of that salt?
First, our speech should be responsive, relevant, and specific. We sometimes want to be too general and throw everything “and the kitchen sink” at the outsider. But, if we are not responsive, relevant, and specific, it is likely that they will think that we do not have the answer and it will turn them off.
Second, our speech should be distinctive. We should not try to give advice outside of our knowledge and experience. We should not try to account for the hope in others. But, rather we should account for the hope in us as stated above in 1 Peter 3:15. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” Matthew 5:13 In this regard, Reformed believers should not obscure their Reformed distinctives and try to be just like every other “evangelical” believer. (Too many Reformed believers try to hide their distinctive Reformed beliefs; they avoid using distinctive and descriptive Reformed words like predestination, election, chosen, and other “TULIP” and “Five Solas” words. This practice is not only bland and unhelpful; it is deceptive.)
Third, like salt, our speech should be penetrating and capable of “cleaning out wounds” and “curing” (like salt cures or preserves ham). Our speech should be effective at helping others.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 