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April 24 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:5,6. In this letter to the Colossians, Paul has explained our position in Christ and the response that we will have to the gifts of His Spirit within us. We will be marked by forgiveness and love toward others. The old ways that we inherited from Adam are to be laid aside. Nowhere is it more important than in our dealings with those outside of Christ—those who have not accepted Christ into their lives. These ‘outsiders, as Paul calls them, are to be dealt with in wisdom and grace—not judgment. We should find ourselves praying for them and speaking to them with words of encouragement. Remember that the world is also watching us—all the while wondering what it is that makes us the way we are. We need to see things as they see them, and to make sure that we are presenting the image that properly shows us to be Christ-like. Not parading any spirituality or false piety, but always carrying with us the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience that is the character of Jesus. We cannot do this in our old nature, but the new nature is eager and willing to do all of this. We just need to listen and obey God’s leading. We must never create the illusion that we live in some ‘ivory tower’ of God’s creation. We have nothing that is not also available to all that would believe. God has forgiven even the vilest sinner when he/she accepts Christ. So it is not based upon any merit upon our part, and we should be quick to explain that very thing before anyone should think we have earned any favor from God. Thank You Father for the grace that allows us to present ourselves to the world as sinners saved by Your Son. Thank You that this free gift is available to all who would believe. We glorify and honor Your name. Amen.
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