Monday, October 30, 2006

Ready for the question?

Are you ready for someone to ask you “the question”? You know-the question that becomes that “opportunity” that you will make the most of?

“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 (NIV)

With Christ at the center of our lives, God will provide opportunities for us to share Him with others. In Christ are hidden treasure troves of wisdom that He gives us applying to the way we live oue daily lives. People will notice wisdom, gravitate toward it, and thus you will have influence.

With Jesus at the center, our speech becomes nutritious and life-giving. Gracious conversation combined with wisdom lends itself to insightful interaction with others throughout the course of the day. We know what to say, how to say, and when (or when not) to say those things that God Himself would have said in any given moment. The Grace-filled tongue is influenced away from negative and critical comments that repel people away from Christ’s influence through us.

Instead, encouraging words that build up and give grace to the hearers come from our Center.
Our hard-working, wise, gracious, seasoned lives will always attract questions. People will be attracted by Christ in you. You will become magnetic. There will be people who find you attractive and ask you about things-lots of things. Then you can be ready! Ready to tell them why. It is a simple answer. Because you have faith in Christ and you are making a sincere effort to follow His teachings.

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)

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