Well Seasoned

I have a cold. I haven't been sick in two years, so of course it has knocked me off my feet the last two days, and it comes on a week where I am preparing for a fair. It's the first time I have ever had a booth of any kind at a fair, I have been really excited, and a bit nervous about it, so why a cold now? I am pretty sure I contracted it while spending 4 1/2 hours in the ER for my dad, on Sunday night. Hospitals are not germ free! But that really isn't the point of this post.

This morning I made my usual cup of tea to sip as I had my devotions. As I was drinking it I realized, that because of my congestion, I couldn't taste the tea. For someone who loves tea, who is trying to make a living selling tea, it was a bit disconcerting to say the least. As I read the scripture passage, I had to grin:

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom towards outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.
Let your speech be seasoned with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4.5,6

My tea was tasteless, not of my own doing, but tasteless none the less. But my life, that is to be another matter.

Yesterday, my neighbor brought me some fresh caught Halibut. We started to chat, and the conversation lead to things of the Lord. "You're a religious woman..." as he shared his heart. I don't know how he knew of my faith, we have never spoken of it before. Perhaps he sees me going to church every Sunday; my prayer is that Jesus is seen in me in all I do and say. Anyway, we spoke of some basic things, nothing too meaty, but after he left I prayed, 'Okay, Lord you have opened the door. Make me always ready to know what to say." And then I read this passage today.

My point is this. Because of being in the Word daily, my life should always be Christ-like. Because of being in the Word daily, my speech should always be seasoned with Christ. Because of being in the Word daily, I should always be ready to know how to respond to anyone I cross paths with. Though my tea was tasteless, my life should always be well seasoned, spicy, peppered with Christ so that I am always at the ready to give an account of what I believe, of Who I believe in.

I know that this cold will not last forever, my taste will come back. I will continue to drink my tea, whether I can taste it or not, just as I will continue to be in God's word so that my life, my words, my actions will always be tasteful.