Make the Most of Every Opportunity

I am continuing my reflection on some verses from yesterday.  I find that often I will spend a day or two ruminating on some specific theme or set of verses, and that usually means I need to get these more into my life.  Here are the verses from Paul’s letter to the Colossians 4:2-6 NIV:

[2] “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. [3] And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. [4] Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. [5] Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. [6] Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

These are such good verses for this time, this season of being together with family, and friends, some of whom might not be believers. A couple of very good points that Paul makes, and my expansion (Verse 2, 5 & 6), not that they are needed, but I Like to try to apply them to my own life:

1) Be devoted to prayer…

A) This is not just a casual observance, but something of significant and constant focus.  The definition of the Greek word proskartereō:

    i. to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one

    ii.to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing

    iii. to continue all the time in a place

    iv. to persevere and not to faint

B) This mindset requires a constant vigilance, not with a critical eye but as someone ready to help.

2) In the place of prayer be watchful and thankful

A) Watchful tends to bring an idea of being awake and alert ( towards danger) but I think this could also be for what the Lord is doing… (although the Greek tends towards danger).

B) Thankful - with a heart constantly tuned to gratitude… and eyes to see what the Lord is doing and recognizing and then treasuring this in one’s heart. I think that thankfulness must move from our brain to our heart.

3) Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders.

A)  The Greek word means those without, or outside the door, and this is clearly talking about those outside the church.

B) This could be taken to mean that we should be guarded, and there is wisdom in that not all people understand our thoughts, actions, and different citizenship, however I think this relates more to Paul’s vigilance towards every opportunity to share the Gospel of Grace, which is what he continues with….

4) Make the most of every opportunity.

A) This is a clear focus on presenting the Gospel, speaking of Christ , sharing one’s life in the most opportune and effective manner.

B) I find this most difficult, as I struggle with the “fear of man”, and my own personal space boundaries.

C) One certainly understands that Paul, in his courageous work seemed to live this encouragement.

5) Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt

A) Oh that we would learn to respond this way, both verbally and through our actions. 

B) The Greek word is charis, and it is briefly defined as follows:

    i) grace

        A) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

    ii) good will, loving-kindness, favour

        A) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues

C) This is not a broadcast of words flowing from our lips, like some sidewalk preacher, but this is a conversation, as in two people conversing back and forth.  Oh, that we would learn how to listen, to really hear what the other is saying.

D) This is an encouragement to the church to be a place of conversation, not just proclamation.

E)  A note from David Guzik, referring to the phrase “seasoned with salt”

     i) “In classical writers ‘salt’ expressed the wit with which conversation was flavoured.” (Peake) “Grace and salt (wit, sense) make an ideal combination.” (Robertson)

6) So that you may know how to answer everyone.

A) This is a prayer of mine, for conversationally I am often slow, and think of what I should have said, hours and sometimes days later.  I want to be in the flow and knowing what I should say in that moment.

B) I don’t think this is a methodological preparation for every possible conversation point as one of my college professors urged (grade-school music of all things) but rather a sensitivity of heart and mind to understand one’s fellow conversant, both what is being said and what is left unsaid, to understand the heart of the matter, and being able to speak in that context. 

C) We find times where Jesus operated in this gift, knowing what people were saying among themselves, or even thinking…(Luke 9:47; Matt 9:4)

D) Oh that we would have His same sensitivity!

Lord, thank You for Your encouragement through Paul this morning!  Help me to put these encouragements into practice, even as You clearly demonstrated them in Your ministry.  I want to make the most of every opportunity, speaking with grace, salt and love!

Amen!