Walk Wisely Towards the Lost

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)

Like much of Biblical text, these verses are interpreted in different ways.  This is evidenced by reading the many versions of the Bible.  These two versions follow one another somewhat on this verse.

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside”.  Who is outside?  Those outside are those that are not a part of the church – non-believers.  This is a reference to the lost.  All people who do not believe in Jesus as the Son of God who was sent here to walk with man, live with man, then die for man and was resurrected into life and sits with God the Father today are “outside”.  Those who are His are being told to be wise in how you walk with them and how you act with them.  We are to be wise in how we interact with lost people.

“toward”.  I believe it is very important to not miss this word in this text.  We are to be wise in the way we act toward non-believers.  God’s people are to deliberately interact with non-believers!  This is intentional effort.  Christians should not lament their difficulties with working with the lost, but seek the opportunities, while they exist, to interact with the lost so they can be a witness to the one living Savior.

“Redeeming the time”.  Every moment with a lost person is important!  Why is it important?  Here is where I disagree with the main intent of the interpretation of The Message Bible which says “the goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation”.  This is not how I interpret the main intent of these verses.  The reason we must be wise in our time spent with a lost person is because every opportunity must be seized if it can be to bring the witness of the knowledge and reality of Jesus to them.  We must be wise in how we make the most of our opportunities.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Because we must make the most of our opportunities, it is most important that our speech is gracious and not full of venom as the world’s.  Our conversation must be a witness to grace and it must be sprinkled with worthy of tasting.  It should have the flavor of the gospel within it.  Our conversation should apply to everyone that we are able to have contact with.

Difficult People

²⁷ But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. ²⁹ To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. ³¹ And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. – Luke 6:27-31

Everyone at some time or another has had to work with or be around a difficult person.  By difficult, I’m referring to a very selfish person who is argumentative, belligerent, flippant, or just rude.  I’m actually not referring to the teenagers in a home, although this fits many times.  For reasons unknown, except that they do not have the Spirit of the one true living God inside of them (or they aren’t listening to Him at the time), these people are difficult to be around and work beside.  The longer you are around them the more taxing it is on all your emotions and your patience gets shorter and shorter.  Eventually, if you aren’t constantly working to walk close to God you will become a person that is rude and build a solid emotional wall towards that person that no longer cares what happens to them but actually wants something to happen so that you will not have to be near them. 

This is not the lesson Jesus taught His disciples.  He did not teach us to not care about others.  He did not teach us to hope something happens to them for our benefit.  He did not teach us to be rude to others.  He did not teach us to build an emotional wall that isolates that person from our being.  If the Spirit of God is within us and we build a wall that shields others from us, how will they see Jesus?

I will concede that there are some relationships that a Christian should opt out of.  If being near someone constantly erodes your ability to maintain a close walk with God, then steps should be taken to limit the interactions with that person or people.  Only a foolish person would consider that a human relationship that might cost you a closer walk with God would be more important than that relationship with God.  There is no comparison between anything in this physical world and the value of our bonds to the heavenly world.

Personally, I am currently working with someone who does not listen to complete instruction because they believe that their way is best.  He has good ideas, but rather than take time to explain them and have the conversation, he just does what he thinks he should.  He works at a meticulously slow pace.  When he completes a task, it is a very good work, but he spends too much time pilfering around looking at his phone and taking smoke breaks.  He is less than honest on the amount of time doing the task seemingly in a way that takes advantage for him and his pay.  If others point out missing or needed supplies, he quickly blames others for any error.  Worst of all, when everyone jumps in to help and work long hours to do so, he is not overcome with gratitude, but often leaving during those late hours for personal hobbies.

I want what is best for this person.  I see potential in what he could do if he would apply his best to his time and to those around him.  However, I am not responsible for what he does and for what he refuses to learn.  I am not responsible for his attitude.  I AM responsible for mine.  I am to do good to those “who spitefully use you”. 

“Submit yourselves to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

My job now is to confront this person with their actions: dishonesty, not generous, selfish, not working diligently as unto the Lord, concern for others.  Everywhere there is accountability in life.  I do not like being the guy who calls others into it.  My experience is they always react negatively and do not fall into repentance as God calls us to do.  But to do less is to not love him at all.

Jesus showed His love for us through sacrifice first and then in accountable confrontations intended to draw us closer to Him.  We must learn to do the same with those we are in contact with, so that we might lead them closer to God, even if they reject us at that time.  

Pray, dear Christian, that you will have patience and most of all love for those who are difficult to bear.  Endeavor to walk close with God during those times and let Him lead you as you must be alongside such people.

Death and Heavenly Realms

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be raised to life as He was. – Romans 6:4-5

We, that is, believing Christians, were buried as Christ was.  Who we are as a human, borne with a sinful nature, have died to being ruled by those sins.  Just as Christ died and rose again, we also can live a new life as a person no longer ruled by our sinful nature.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Too often I see Christians who are in a terrible battle of trust.  They don’t know if they can trust the new nature completely.  The old nature is pulling so hard and it is at least comfortable, even if it caused so much pain.  Everyone I know has some aspect of this battle within them.  They are struggling with some small or large area of their active or thought life.  Can they submit all to God and trust Him completely?  Will he take those things they love away?  So much risk is assumed.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus – Ephesians 2:6

But what a reward!  Christ willingly takes our sin, the weight of all we’ve done wrong upon Himself.  And still we have doubts!  And, He raises us up with Christ to be with Him in the heavenly realms.  We are never left to ourselves.  He takes us with Him to be with Him.  He comes to us, cleans us up, then takes our hand to be with us.  There is no risk.  He can be trusted with all that we are and we can confidently know that there is nothing we value that is of any importance by comparison to this heavenly reward of companionship with our Messiah, our Savior. 

Allow yourself to mentally go through your Baptism again today.  Die to your sins by giving them willfully to Jesus.  He has already died and rose again to defeat the purpose of sin.  Rise with Him to His heavenly places by letting His Spirit dominate your heart today.

The Love of Open Rebuke

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

-          Proverbs 27:5-6

These two verses are directly opposed to our culture today.  Our society will quickly tell you that if you oppose somone’s lifestyle or actions you don’t love them.  In fact, all a person has to say is they are doing what makes them happy in life.  Our current society has placed such a high value on that goal of life that all moral and responsible actions are immediately moved as completely unimportant relative to a person doing what makes them happy.

These verses tell us that an open confrontation, a rebuke of your actions, is better than someone who loves you but does nothing.  In fact, the verse describes such a love as hidden, unseen.  If someone loves you but never does a single thing towards you from that love, does that love have any value?  Doesn’t it actually oppose the character of love to do nothing for someone you love?  This verse says that the one who openly rebukes your behavior and actions is the one who is loving you and this is better love.

The next verse then discusses the wounds received from such an open confrontation or rebuke.  Undoubtedly, if a friend confronts your behavior or action you will be emotionally wounded.  The Word of God tells us here that such a wound from a friend (who loves you as discussed in the verse preceding) can be trusted.  Your friend’s accountability might have hurt your feelings, it might have seemed to be against you, but you can trust it because it comes from your friend who is not hiding their love for you.  Further, an enemy would not only not confront you, but would send you “kiss” after “kiss” to tell you how good you are (and how bad your friend is) in your sinful actions.

Ephesians 4:15 tells us Christians to “speak truth in love.”  This does not mean that we love others with compliments in their sin.  We do not take a sympathetic view of their sin.  We should not be fearful of offending; I can tell you from experience it is a rare human being that isn’t offended when confronted about an action they are taking that they want to do that they’ve reasoned as being good for them, even if the Word of God specifically says the opposite.  We ask if they believe in Jesus and want to follow Him.  If yes, then we point out what the Word of God says and try to compel them to repent, turn away, in the direction or actions they are taking and start steps towards that Word.  Ultimately, their argument is with God, not you.

It is imperative that Christians love one another in this way.  There must be accountability again in the Christian family, community, and church.  Otherwise, we do not love each other, and the world will not know we are of disciples of Jesus.

By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another. – John 13:35

The Falling Away

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first – 2 Thessalonians 2:3

The “Day” described here is the day that Jesus returns.  This section of this chapter in 2 Thessalonians is described in many Bibles as “The Great Apostasy”.  The translated term “falling away” comes from the Greek word apostasia which can be translated from apo, meaning to depart from, and stasis, meaning the stand or state of.  One can translate then that the falling away is a departing from the stand of faith or the stand of the Word of God.  One can also translate that the falling away is a departing from the state of something, such as the state of being of God.  This would be a departing from the state of being created by God. 

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – 2 Timothy 3:1-4

To fall away from being a creation of God means that everything about you as you were born is in question.  Your gender: males will depart from their stasis or state of manhood, women will depart from their stasis or state of womanhood, fathers from their state of fatherhood , mothers from their state of motherhood, and humans from the state of humanity (life has less value).

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world – Philippians 2:14-15

That age will see a departure from the Word of God.  This means those who know Jesus must hold onto His Word with much more conviction, certainty, and steadfastness.  The effort will have to be intentional and it won’t be convenient. 

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. – Ephesians 6:13

Today, let us be careful not to be falling away.  Let us be watchful for our stand on the Word of God and for our knowledge of being precious created sons and daughters of the Most High God.  Created in His image according to His good will and for His good purpose.

A Stacked Court

If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies.  Who is he who condemns?  It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. – Romans 8:31b-34

Imagine you are in a courtroom and there is a judge, an accuser, and your defense attorney.  Your fate rest in the hands of how well your defense attorney represents you and then the judge’s ruling.  Here in America, I have seen many times that the quality of that defense attorney means a lot regarding your probability of getting a fair judgment.

Now, imagine that the judge and your defense attorney … is the same person.  The accuser makes his claims against you, but your defense attorney is the judge!  What do you think your chances are of getting a fair judgment?  Very good I would say!  This is a stacked court in your favor.  In fact, I would say the case is closed and there is no argument.  There is no trial.  It was over before it began.

This last scenario is what Paul is describing.  Who can be against us?  Who can bring a charge against us?  God has justified us, so who can condemn us?  Our judge is our defense attorney.  There is no trial and no accusations, no condemnation.  The guilt is over; the judgment is gone.  It is forever settled!

Christian, have you sincerely repented of your sins today?  If not, would you drop your pride over some item that you believe God should allow you to do in your life and turn back to His Word? 

Dear Christian, are you carrying a heavy load of guilt today?  Perhaps you’ve repented, but you just can’t overcome the stain on your conscious.  Will you drop that load and step into your freedom from condemnation offered by your Judge and Defense Attorney, Jesus our Savior?

Of all peoples, Christians should be the most joyous and peaceful, resting well upon their knowledge of the truth, that their God neither holds their sins against them or is willing that they should perish in bondage.  Your sins are forgiven.  Through Jesus your charges are dropped.  You are free.