Colossians Chapter 4: Verses 5-6 (NIV)
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.
People who do not share our faith will react to it in different ways, they may be curious, they may be indifferent, they may be sceptical, or they may even be antagonistic. Thus, people may react differently to the way we act and in response to what we say. We need to be gracious to each of these different groups of people, even if they try and rub us up the wrong way. People may have some experience of church and Christianity and others may not. For some, we may be the only people of faith that they will have come across. We need to be wise and remember who it is we are representing. We want to present the Gospel but we need to know what the Bible says. We need to be able to put forward the truth that is found in the Bible. Paul counselled his friend Timothy to, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) That’s why a good Bible Study programme, like Nicky Gumbel’s “Bible in One Year” and others are so helpful. But also we need to remember its not just what we say that speaks to others, its often what we do that touches people. And that’s why we need to ask God for His wisdom.
Dear Lord,
Help me to be familiar with Your word but to be a good example of how to live it. I ask for Your wisdom to act with grace and dignity as a good ambassador should. I ask in Jesus Name. Amen.