The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 4:2-6. “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
4 in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.
5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”

Great and wise men often speak with down-to-Earth simplicity. Paul does that here, as he comes to the close of his letter to the Colossian Christians. “Devote yourselves to prayer,” he says. Do so constantly! Prayer doesn’t always have to be on your knees. You can pray while driving a car. You can pray in your heart for that workman who has come to labor at your house. The LORD can “open a door” for you to speak the Word to anyone.

But, how will I do it? What if I get scrambled in my words? Don’t worry! Trust the LORD to “open a door
for His Word!” Trust Him to enable you to “make it clear.” I remember well the day I crossed the street to speak to a couple of guys seated in a truck. As I spoke, they responded with a question. I laughed as I said, “Oh, the answer to that is right here in the Bible.” Yet, as I said it, I had no idea where in the Bible!
But, I opened it faithfully, and the Scripture I needed was right there where I had turned! I was amazed!
There was that “door for the Word,” opened by the Holy Spirit of Almighty God.

Nevertheless, we’re not to be flippant in witnessing. We’re to be wise and humble. We’re to speak kindly and graciously as we witness. Our words are to be “seasoned with salt.” Salt on words makes them acceptable to our hearers, just as salt on vegetables makes them tasty. Salt is also a preservative, giving our words memory in the minds of our hearers. Whatever their immediate response, our “salty words” of witness will not be forgotten. It’s all of Him; He just allows us the privilege of being involved. When were you last involved in witnessing? Or are you one who received a witness that you simply cannot forget?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom