“Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one” (Colossians 4:5-6).

As the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Colossae (a church that he had not founded or visited), he encouraged these Gentile believers to be thoughtful and considerate at all times and among all people.

Paul wanted them to take every opportunity to “say a good word for the Lord Jesus.”

If the Gentiles of Colossae needed to hear that admonition, so do we.

How many people did you interact with yesterday? What were your conversations like? Were they seasoned with salt and gracious? Were they filled with charm and wit?

What should we gain from this?

First, every interaction is an opportunity to say a good word for the Lord Jesus. This is why Paul wanted the Colossians to pray for him in prison, “to declare the mystery of Christ , on account of which I am in prison, that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:3-4). Paul knew that every place and every time is a good place and time to say a good word about Jesus. Even prison is a good place to practice Christian kindness and hospitality.

Second, do your best in every encounter. They all count. Therefore, be filled with charm and wit. Should a discussion about Jesus ever be boring? I often say to my congregation, “shame on me if I let the preaching of the Gospel be a boring time.”

Third, ask God’s Spirit to use your words and your attitudes to bless people with the Good News about Jesus. Paul wanted the Colossians to be fully alive to God’s leading and always aware that they really were the only Jesus people had ever encountered.

We should all be about, “saying a good word for Jesus.”