I love that Paul refers to interactions with people who are not Christians as opportunities. Opportunities are situations where the results could go either way. What God chooses to do, that's his business. We just need to be wise.
"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." Colossians 4:5-6
Everyday we deal with people. How we deal with people is what matters. Our interactions with others, particularly with "outsiders" is to be marked with grace. I once saw a guy preaching away on a box and when my friend and I said, "God bless you brother!" he turned, gave us the middle finger, and told us to go to hell. I think he had been out there a bit too long. I understand the zeal of people who stand on street corners calling people to repent, but, I don't know if their conversation is generally "full of grace".
Let's get back to "every opportunity". What will be the connections you make with people today? Remember the grace of God in your life as you listen and speak with others. What you do and the attitude you do it with can be just as important as what you say. Look for the grace of God sprinkled like salt in you life and in conversation throughout the day.
When Paul tells the Colossians (and us) to act graciously so that we may "know how to answer everyone" he is telling us to be prepared. Do you know someone who is more of a challenge than what you might term an opportunity? Think about how to respond to challenging "outsiders" with grace. Be ready and remember what you call a challenge God sees as an opportunity to show his grace through you.
Father, help us to know how to answer everyone with grace. Remind us of your grace to us. Praise be to you in us today!
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