Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
We are still unpacking our mandate to share the Word of God as Jesus’ witnesses at all costs. Today’s passage has at least three powerful insights for our benefit.
First, wisdom must govern all our interactions with non-believers. We must know that at any given time there are unbelievers who are watching us. There are seekers out there who depend on your example to find their way to God. Sometimes we invest too much energy toward preaching to the converted! We thus neglect our duty to reach the unreached, to win the lost.
Second, we must make the most of every opportunity to promote the kingdom of God. Every interaction, encounter, occasion, event, party, function, wedding, celebration, ceremony, crisis or situation is a potential platform to share the love and light of Christ. Every sinner you meet is a prospective saint. Your behaviour can help or hinder his or her spiritual journey toward Christ.
Third, our language is a crucial factor in our efforts to win others to Christ. Our speech can turn people off God just like that. Effective witnesses don’t just talk. They season their speech with salt. That’s a metaphor for ensuring that our words always add value and improve the situation.
As a rule, Christ’s ambassadors make bad situations better. They speak to build rather than to destroy. They choose to bless than to curse, to commend than to criticise,, to honour than to dishonour and to worship than to whinge. Live like that and you’ll win some to Christ.
Pastor Josh