July 8
“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.
The apostle Paul gives some special advice to Christians as they come into contact with people of the world, with unbelievers or non-Christians. “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside.” As Christians, we should have a desire and determination to bring those who are outside of the Christian Church to the inside. This calls for a genuine love of souls who are spiritually in the dark and without any hope for eternal life in heaven.
Walk in wisdom! Have the Christian wisdom to know what to say to unbelievers and when and how to say it. Remember that we can be one hundred percent correct in what we say, and at the same time we can be one hundred percent wrong in the way we say it. The tone of the voice can tell the listener whether one really has a loving concern for the person’s spiritual welfare. With words, you can turn people “on” or “off”!
“Let your speech always be with grace.” The words that we speak should be flavored with love, kindness, courtesy, and be to the point. We should redeem the time – that is, make the most of every opportunity to witness for our Lord and Savior. Our words should be “seasoned with salt.” They should be words that preserve the opportunity to speak of Jesus and His love, not words that break off the conversation and result in a missed opportunity.
Indeed, we know that people are converted by the Holy Spirit to accept Jesus Christ as God’s Son and the only Savior for sinners. Scripture clearly states, “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit,” 1 Corinthians 12:3. However, we must remember that the Spirit works through our words, as Paul expressed it in another Epistle: “He called you by our Gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ,” 2 Thessalonians 2:14. With our words, we are a means through which the Holy Spirit calls people to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.
There is a need for some learning on our part as witnesses for Jesus. The apostle writes, “Know how you ought to answer each one.” This requires prayer and preparation on our part. The apostle Peter wrote, “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear,” 1 Peter 3:15. Profess the Christian faith without giving an impression that you think that you are better than or superior to your listener. We must speak in a spirit of true humility.
What remains as our goal? Our goal is to bring those from the outside to the inside. Through our witnessing, we pray that the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of the hearers and bring them to a knowledge of their sin and an unwavering trust in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and their Savior.
“If you cannot speak like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
You can say He died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked
With the Judgment’s dread alarms,
You can lead the little children
To the Savior’s waiting arms.
Let none hear you idly saying,
‘There is nothing I can do,’
While the souls of men are dying,
And the Master calls for you.
Take the task He gives you gladly,
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when he calleth,
‘Here am I, send me, send me!’” Amen.