Daily devotion – Words and God’s grace…
Colossians 4:5 – “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”
What does Paul mean here by “walk in wisdom”?
Firstly and simply, Paul is telling us to be careful—not to say or do anything that would make it difficult to share the Gospel. Walking in wisdom means being mindful of our conduct before unbelievers, especially when God opens a door for personal witness. It’s about not wasting those moments but redeeming them for Christ.
Secondly, it means walking honestly and uprightly before a watching world. Being a follower of Jesus carries the responsibility of living in such a way that honours Him. If we live carelessly—burning bridges or creating offence unnecessarily—we can shut the ears and hearts of those we long to lead to Christ. Our lives must match our message.
But Paul goes further. He brings our attention to our words. In verse 6 he adds:
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Grace must guide our speech—not our feelings, not our frustrations, not our pride. Every word should reflect that we know Christ, and that we long to make Him known. The mouth only unloads what fills the heart, so we must daily ask the Lord to search our hearts. The Holy Spirit gently convicts us when our attitudes turn sour or bitter—and if left unchecked, our words will carry that same poison.
But when God’s grace floods our hearts, our words change. They become sweet, timely, helpful—penetrating the ears and hearts of those around us.
Consider Jesus. When He read from the Word in the synagogue and declared His mission, listen to how people responded:
Luke 4:22 – “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.”
What a model we have in our Saviour! His words, full of grace, stirred the hearts of all who heard Him.
Paul’s two wise exhortations—to walk in wisdom and to speak with grace—are simple in wording but deep in practice. I long for them to be more evident in my life. Too often I fall short. But God is gracious, and He is still working in me—and in us all.
So today, may we pray together:
“Lord, help us to walk wisely in this world. Let our lives speak clearly of Christ. And may our words be gracious, seasoned with the salt of Your truth, that we might answer each person rightly. Fill our hearts so that our lips overflow with Your goodness. Amen.”