A Life Worth Listening To

Text: Colossians 4:5-6 Theme: Our lives are to impact others constantly and wisely. Key verses: “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.” What God said to me: Dwayne, I know you “had a word from me” last week about this passage and that you typed it all out then lost it in the internet transfer. I understand that you got the wind knocked out of your sails just a bit and haven’t wanted to return to this passage for a second, “warmed-over” word. However, you must keep in mind that my Word is alive and active and never warmed-over. Your reluctance to return was little more than an excuse not to dive deeper into my written Word. My Holy Spirit can reveal the same thing to you that He did last week, or He might want to show you something now that you were unable to see last week. Life happens; things get changed; but I never change, and I demand your attention and daily time with me in my Word – no matter how much your “sails” droop. Now on to today’s focus: Paul was in prison when he wrote this. Yet, he was still thinking of others. He understood that our lives exist not for ourselves, but for those around us. “Every opportunity” for Paul at that moment meant witnessing to the prison guards and writting letters of teaching and admonishing to the saints. Dwayne, even when you are down, even when your life is bound up in chains of sickness or tragedy, you are still to think of others more than yourself. You are still to make the most of that moment and see it as yet another opportunity to praise me in front of those around you. Be wise about it. That means to allow my Holy Spirit to fill and direct you through those “opportunities.” Think before you speak and act. Think three times if you need to. And when you do open your mouth, let it project words worth listening to, words that impact the listener and can point their focus toward me as well. Have something interesting to say. It doesn’t have to all “spiritual” all the time, but it does have to be salty, flavored, healthy, thoughtful and purposefully helpful. No more excuses, Dwayne. Come before me again and again and get the words you are to say, the words of life that can change your listeners lives forever. What I said to God: Holy Father, please forgive me for my childish reaction to last week’s little set-back. I admit I did use that as an excuse to put off revisiting this passage before You. Make my life a prayer to You. I want to do what You want me to. I want others to always see You in me. And I want and must not only hope they see You in me. I must verbalize my faith out loud and live to the praise of the glory of Your grace for all to see. May my family and my church live for You today as well. I love You and adore You!