Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:2-6
As I was reading today and came across these verses I was struck by this thought. This is Paul talking! Paul the apostle. The guy who was called and anointed to such an extent that sick people were healed because his shadow fell on them as he passed by. The guy who we see do amazing things for God as His witness to the Gentiles. Paul who walked in the power of the Holy Spirit doing signs, wonders, and miracles in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I say that and stress it because look at what he is asking. He is asking the brethren to continue earnestly praying. To be vigilant in their praise and thanksgiving and to also be vigilant in lifting him and his endeavors up to God as well. Paul the apostle felt the need and the strength that comes from knowing that others are praying for you. Look at his words and what he asked them to pray "...praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak." He was asking that the brethren would stand with him in prayer and he was asking for the very thing that was his hearts desire; to have open doors to share the word and that the power of the word would be made manifest in the lives of those who were to hear his message.
Look at what he said next. As and because of diligent prayer we can walk in the wisdom of God in all our dealings with those that need to to yet be redeemed. We have a hand in redeeming the time as and if we are diligent to walk in such a way that responds to the "open doors" that come in answer to our prayers for opportunities to share the Gospel of Christ.
We, the brethren, have a hand in redeeming the time as we, "Let our speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that we may know how we ought to answer each one." If Paul the apostle felt the need for the agreement of the brethren in prayer that he might be "salt" in his generation how about you and I. Are we praying for doors and opportunities for the members of the body we know, or do we just take it for granted?
Are we lacking in opportunities and results in our efforts to further the Gospel because we forget to be diligent on our asking? Is it truly a case of ..."You have not because you ask not." James 4:2
Brethren, lets remember to be diligent in our prayers for one another asking for open doors! Then lets walk through them in equipped with His wisdom and with just the right words, seasoned with grace that we would be the 'salt' in and for our generation!
Remember, Paul the apostle thought it was important enough that he asked for those very same prayers to be prayed on his behalf!
Just so you know ---its my prayer for YOU!
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