December 30th
Sixth Day of Christmas
Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6
The Christian witness… Paul instructs the Colossians on how to relate with non-believers. Paul tells the Colossian people (and us) to conduct ourselves wisely toward outsiders and to let our words be gracious, seasoned with salt.
Today, as I write this devotional, this country bitterly butts heads over the upcoming election… and for a week now, as I watch this bitterness play out before my eyes, Paul’s words roll around in my head. Conduct ourselves wisely. Let our words be gracious, seasoned with salt.
How should Christians conduct themselves in this politically divisive world?
On my social media platforms, I can’t help but notice the vitriol coming from some Christian friends in regard to politics. I can’t help but wonder…. how is this a witness to our faith in Jesus Christ? How is this conducting ourselves wisely? How is this using words of grace?
We all have our political persuasions, me included. But Jesus invites us to love Him and love others first. If you find yourself hating a person in the other political party, perhaps it is time for some self-reflection. If you find yourself name calling, perhaps it is time for some self-reflection.
With New Year’s Eve quickly coming upon us, now is the time for resetting priorities. Jesus offers a different lens to view the world, a lens that is neither Democrat nor Republican. Remember, Paul wrote Colossians from prison. The Roman government imprisoned Paul unjustly, yet Paul chose not to fight government, but to prioritize the Gospel. He reminds us to do the same. True, flourishing life does not come from political persuasions. Flourishing life comes as our focus centers on Jesus.
We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by the people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
Ephesians 4: 14-16
Paul exhorts us not be tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of political drama, every wind of bait clicking headline. Instead, let us focus on Jesus. Let us be knit together in love. Our new president will be inaugurated in the next few weeks. Whether your heart breaks or whether your heart leaps for joy… remember, our calling as Christians is to love Him and love others first. So…
Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders.
and
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.
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