“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:5-6)

My sister and I went to a family baby shower that consisted of all our aunts and cousins. While mingling one cousin approached and started to share with us how she had become a christian, she was excited and couldn’t wait to share the news. We were a little surprised as my extended family has always been very closed when it comes to the gospel. This changed our relationship and what happened as result was the three of us spent the next two years in a discipleship group, learning and growing together.

Because of the long history of faithful living as believers in front of my extended family, my cousin knew exactly who to share the news with when the time came. My parents had shared the gospel previously and years of conscientious living walked it out in front of them.

Full of Grace; Seasoned with Salt

“And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Colossians 4:3-4)

Paul was in prison at the time he wrote this letter. He was there not as a murderer, thief or criminal but on the account of the gospel. Satan stirred up so much trouble for him (2 Cor. 12:7) that eventually it landed him in prison under guard. Yet it did nothing to stop the message from going out; if anything it advanced kingdom work. 

This is why Paul pauses in the middle of instructions on how to pray (Col 4:2) and asked for prayer himself. Because for his mission to succeed in prison he needed the power of prayer. His task was so great that these were the things he asked of them. Pray for an open door to share the gospel. Pray for the boldness to proclaim Jesus as the savior, and pray for the message to be clear and understandable.