Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. – Colossians 4:6

Today's Scripture Reading (April 19, 2021): Colossians 4

J. K. Rowling in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" writes, "Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure." Maybe we need to define wit. It is more than just humor. Wit includes humor but also verbal understanding and quick thinking in the midst of our conversations. Wit is disarming, and it has the capability of releasing anxiety and relaxing the participants in the discussion. Rowling is right. Learning to converse with wit is one of human kinds greatest treasures and an ability toward which we should all aspire.

As Paul begins to conclude his letter to his Colossian friends, he instructs them that their conversations should be "always full of grace" and "seasoned with salt." Full of grace indicates that our dialog needs to be filled with acceptance and forgiveness. We need to think the best of the one with whom we are conversing. And we need to be willing to accept that the words come from a place of love and acceptance, even when they are not ill-phrased. We are not the ones who take exception from the unintended, or even intended, insults directed our way. We are to extend grace, peace, and forgiveness to the ones with whom we are speaking.

Seasoned with salt is a little more obscure, but classical writers defined the salt of our conversation as the wit with which our discussions are flavored. This is J. K Rowling's "greatest treasure." Wit takes some practice. It does not come automatically but is often a feature of people who have practiced and expanded their conversation skills. Paul says that we need to put some thought into our conversations and evaluate all of the conversations that take place in our daily lives. Seasoning our conversation with salt is an indication that we value the people with whom we are conversing.

Early 20^th-century English Biblical scholar. Arthur Peake argues concerning the salt of our conversation that "there may be the secondary meaning of wholesome, derived from the function of salt to preserve from corruption." Regardless of the intended meaning, grace and salt make an ideal combination.

Paul's intention in encouraging us to have conversations full of grace and seasoned with salt is that we will positively impact the people around us, even those who might oppose the faith which we espouse. And having a positive influence on people outside of the church's walls was the fertile ground that the earliest Christian fellowships enjoyed. It was the situation that Luke described in the days following Pentecost.

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying all the people's favor. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47).

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Philemon 1