Being graceful isn’t enough, and neither is having all the answers – there has to be balance. We are called to bring both sweetness and salt to our interactions with others.
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:6)
I can’t tell you how many times I wished I had the right words. Or the number of times I had the words, but my heart wasn’t in the right place to say them.
It’s funny how often you have one without the other. The knowledge without the compassion. The compassion without the knowledge.
Most of the time we would say that the compassion is enough. Especially when we’re sharing God’s truth. But that sweetness will only take us so far.
Sweetness, compassion, and grace will open doors to people’s hearts, but it’s the knowledge – the salt – that will walk us through.
It’s the seasoning that preserves what we say. It’s the burst of flavor that makes the listener want more. It gives the person listening more than the sweet grace of God. It shares His plans, His purposes, and His love with them.
Finding that Salty Sweet Balance
Even if you’re no foodie, you know that there has to be a balance between the sweet and the salty in food. Salty, savory recipes often include sugar. And baked goods almost always have some salt.
Why?
Because the balance not only keeps things on kilter, one also enhances the other. Together, they both become stronger.
When talking about our faith with others and answering their questions, we need to always have God’s grace at the forefront of our minds. Grace and compassion show the listener that we hear them, we care for them, and we love them.
And the reason we do is because God does.
The salt is the preserved and perfect knowledge of Jesus that we share. When we offer God’s grace along with His redemption, together they become even more powerful. They build the faith of those around us and strengthen our own.
So the next time you’re talking with someone who has a few questions for you, remember that you may not have all the answers and you may not be filled with grace in that moment. But God will supply you with what you need.
And the balance of sweet and salt will open hearts to the waiting presence of God.
Have a blessed Monday!
Looking for more encouragement and inspiration? Try these posts:
Inspirational Monday: Joy in the Right Words
Inspirational Monday: Refresh and Renew by God’s Strength
Inspirational Monday: Sharing God’s Faithfulness with Others
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