Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious

This phrase was stuck in my head today 'Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt'... it sounds like a command to me... 'be gracious'... but it isn't... the Greek is actually really interesting.

There are many times in the Bible where 'be gracious' is used like a command or better yet a prayer. Man is often asking God to 'be gracious'... that happens over 20 times in the Hebrew scriptures... but the scriptures don't show us people commanding other people in this way. In fact Paul seems very careful in how he phases this and even asks for prayer about how to communicates to people... Here is the context:

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 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 - that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak." - Colossians 4:2-4 ESV

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." - Colossians 4:5 NASB20, 4:6 ESV

That, 'Let your...' is so important.

You can't command graciousness.

Still, graciousness is the wise way to deal with outsiders. Seeing your communication as an opportunity (which is how a person interested in evangelism thinks) is also wise.

How do you answer each person? Graciously, that is how.

What is the gracious answer? It involves the mystery of Christ. That a believer is hidden in Christ and that the Holy Spirit is indwelling the believer... somehow and in some way what is said can reveal God if it is said the right way and has the right content.

Wow!

"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." - Romans 5:2 ESV

Ok. Knowing that...

'Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt'

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