Walk in Wisdom Toward Outsiders

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:2-6 ESV)

We who believe in Jesus Christ with genuine God-gifted and God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ should be people of prayer. And we should be sensitive to the Spirit’s voice prompting us to pray for certain people at particular times when God knows that those people need prayer. For prayer is really two-way open communication between us and our Lord to where we can hear from him at any time of day or night, and to where we can speak to him about whatever is on our hearts and minds at any time.

Prayer does not have to be formal or with a written list, and it doesn’t have to be at a specific time of day or a routine we follow. We can talk with the Lord while we are cleaning house or washing the dishes or driving a vehicle or cooking a meal or while we are exercising or taking a walk, etc. For we are to continually be in a state of prayer (pray without ceasing), not that we are always verbalizing prayers to the Lord, but to where we have that open communication to where it is just natural to talk with him at any time.

Now I hear people talking about how we should pray for pastors of churches, and for missionaries, and for evangelists, and that we should pray for those who are sick or who are in physical need of some kind. But we should pray for anyone who is a follower of Christ who asks for prayer, and in the same way we would pray for a pastor or for the sick. For we all need prayer. And all who are following Jesus with their lives are ministers of the gospel and they are missionaries, because they are sharing the gospel with others.

And we should pray for people’s emotional and spiritual needs, too, and not just for their physical needs. For there are a lot of hurting people out there who need prayer and encouragement and who are laboring for the Lord much like Paul did, but without credentials, and without a title, and without recognition that what they are doing is as important or more important than many who have credentials and titles. For a title of “missionary” does not make us a “missionary.” We are missionaries if we are spreading the gospel.

And we should be praying in general for the truth of the gospel of our salvation to get out to as many people as possible so that they will hear the truth and turn their hearts and lives over to Jesus Christ, die with him to sin, then live to him and to his righteousness in the power of God. And we should pray that more people professing faith in Jesus Christ will share the message of the gospel of our salvation with other people, like on social media or in person, or over the phone, or via a letter or whatever means possible.

And when I say “truth,” I mean the truth that Jesus Christ and his NT apostles taught, if read and understood in context, and not from Scriptures removed from their context and then twisted to say what they do not say. For Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow him in obedience, we have the hope of eternal life with God (Luke 9:23-26).

And then we are to walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. We should not be allowing ourselves to get trapped into worldly living and into doing what the ungodly do because we are following the wrong crowd or because we are wanting to “fit in” and be accepted. And we should also seek the Lord for opportunities to share his gospel message with the people of the world in person or on the internet or via letters, or via whatever means we have available to get the good news out to people.

And when this says to let our speech be gracious, this is not talking about us watering down the truth of the gospel so that we don’t offend people with the truth of what the Scriptures teach. For if we lessen the power of the gospel message, we have won no one for genuine faith in Jesus Christ. For grace is kindness, and God’s grace to us instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return (Titus 2:11-14).

And this word “grace” means “leaning towards to share benefit,” the kind of benefit that Jesus provided for us via his death on that cross. For us, we share that grace (favor) via the message of the gospel of our salvation. For in Jesus’ death on that cross he freely gave himself away on our behalf in order that we might have the benefit of deliverance from slavery to sin and the empowerment of God to now live holy lives, pleasing to God, in walks of obedience to his commands in daily living (Romans 6:1-23; 1 Peter 2:24).

And if our speech is seasoned with salt, metaphorically speaking, salt signifies purification. In a figurative sense, it can mean wisdom or prudence (good sense). So, if we preserve the word of God, we maintain, uphold, obey, continue in, protect (safeguard) and defend it. And so if our words are seasoned with salt, we speak with pure words and with godly wisdom and with good sense in safeguarding and protecting the truth of the gospel. And this is what we all should be doing who love and serve Jesus Christ.

[Matt 5:13-16; Matt 28:18-20; Jn 4:31-38; Jn 13:13-17; Jn 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18; Acts 26:18; Rom 10:14-15; Rom 12:1-8; Rom 15:14; 1 Co 12:1-31; 1 Co 14:1-5; Eph 4:1-16; Eph 5:11-27; Php 2:1-8; Col 3:16; Heb 3:13; Heb 10:23-25; 1 Pet 2:9,21; 1 Jn 2:6]  

A Believer’s Prayer 

An Original Work / July 31, 2012

With my whole heart, Lord, I pray 

To be Yours, and Yours always.

Lead me in Your truth today.

May I love You, and obey.

Lead me in Your righteousness.

When I sin, may I confess;

Bow before You when I pray;

Live for You and You always.

Love You, Jesus, You’re my friend.

Life with You will never end.

You are with me through each day,

Giving love and peace always.

You will ne’er abandon me.

From my sin You set me free.

You died on that cruel tree,

So I’d live eternally.

Soon You’re coming back for me;

From this world to set me free;

Live with You eternally.

Oh, what joy that brings to me.

I will walk with You in white;

A pure bride, I’ve been made right

By the blood of Jesus Christ;

Pardoned by His sacrifice.

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