Faith Seasoned Talk

Brought over for us, is this Bible verse from yesterday’s offering. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4: 5 – 6.

Whatever interpretations, expressions or understanding you may have on the above quoted text, you are more than likely correct. However, in this first-and-last combination of the whole, meaning the last week, of the first month in a whole year, we are going to keep our hearts and minds fixed on an incident in the Bible, which is well-known and frequently spoken of. However, before revealing the incident, I want us to look at the text in simple, understandable and different light, as we wait upon God the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, may every single word be given reach to my longing heart and hungry mind that I may receive and seek to know more, live more and be more in You, my Lord, my Master and my Saviour, Jesus. Amen!

The first action word of the text to be brought before us is, walk. It carries practical implications. What I mean is that it is attainable and accessible by most people. As long as a person is born healthy and well, he or she will be born with healthy feet, that which will allow the action of walking. Walking is natural and easy in the physical world, to all who have healthy feet.

The same is true in the Spirit. As long as a person is born of the Spirit, that person is born with healthy, spiritual feet, that which will allow walking by faith. Just as in the physical, the use of the feet is vital to ensure, strength, healthy growth, usefulness, worth, and obedience to desires and commands, so too with faith. If faith is the feet we are given by God, then it is our responsibility to walk in faith and to exercise our faith. Without daily walking by faith, it will become weak, impotent, diseased, unhealthy, useless, fruitless and dead. Believer, do not ever be fooled about this fact. Faith either is alive or it is dead. Faith can be dead. James is quite clear on this. Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2: 17 

To daily and consistently use faith, to exercise faith, to work faith in all things, is imperative. It ensures, strength, healthy growth, usefulness, worth and obedience to our Lord’s desires and commands. Will you agree that to walk in faith, is to walk wisely toward those who are different, making most of the time?

The other action word that has been put before us, that is of the text, is, speak.  Like the word, walk, it is available to all who have been given the gift of speech. No person is born speaking, but as he or she develops and grows, so does speech. In like manner, Spiritual speech must develop and grow in all those born of the Spirit. How important is what you speak? Speech is important for tons of reasons, however, we shall listen to this wise word of Jesus to His disciples. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. Matthew 15: 18.

One truth which we must never try to make excuses for, argue about, or even seek foolishly to deny, is that one’s speech is a sure and strong indicator of what lives in the heart. If faith is what drives and steers one’s feet, then be not in any way deceived about this. Faith will also drive and steer one’s speech. To walk in faith is to talk in faith.

Reference was made earlier to a well-known and frequently spoken of Biblical happening.  It is no other than the one where we see tables turned, in relation to a man’s faith talk and faith walk. Listen to this familiar text.

When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! Luke 7: 9

Today, the tables have been turned around. Normally, the response of marvel is with people, concerning the words and works of Jesus.  I cite two occasions for you.

There is the occasion when Jesus goes up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles and we are told that about the middle of the feast, He goes up into the temple and teaches all the people. His words amaze the Jews who are hearing Jesus speak. And the Jews marveled, saying, How does this Man know letters, having never studied? John 7: 15. Those who are hearing Jesus, people who know Him, are totally amazed. Jesus amazes them with His speech, because what is pouring out of His mouth, has them utterly baffled, since He is no scholar, having not studied letters as other Rabbis have.  

On this occasion, Jesus and His disciples are on a boat sailing to their destination when suddenly, a violent life-threating storm arises. Monstrously raging winds and ferocious waves are about to devour the boat, and His disciples are terrified. They awaken the sleeping Jesus, who gets up and speaks a word of rebuke to the winds and the waves. They obediently do as Jesus says. Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8: 26b. The disciples are totally amazed and left in great marvel. This is what is recorded. And the men marveled, saying, Who can this be, that even the winds and the waves obey Him? Matthew 8: 27.

Those who are hearing Jesus, are His own disciples, people who know Him, intimately, as they live with Him and travel around with Him. In fact, He teaches them daily and they know Him as their Master, powerful in speech and action. I mean, on several occasions, they have seen His powers of command and demand. Even scary, powerful demons cower when He speaks to them. However, this one makes them marvel. Jesus amazes His students, with His speech, because they never thought that He even had power of speech to command vicious winds and waves and have them immediately obey Him. Indeed, there are many more instances when people are left amazed, marvelling at Jesus’ words and works.

Yes, from our given Bible text, the tables have been turned around. When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him. Jesus marvels, as faith drives and steers the speech of a Gentile, to walk and talk in faith.  

There’s much more to come.