Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside [the unsaved], redeeming the time.”

June 29th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The Apostle Paul is speaking here against such foolishness as making pronouncements like the title of the book, 88 Reasons Why Jesus is Coming in 1988. Believers have no right to make such unwise, foolish statements publicly. In the next verse, Paul says that our speech is to be seasoned with grace as our life is being observed by the unsaved world. When it comes to sharing our faith, our Father in heaven expects us to exercise wisdom. Just how we share is very important to Him. As His child, we have a responsibility to not be foolish in front of the watching world.

The story of pastor who moved to a new town illustrates this idea very well:

A few weeks after I arrived in the city, my car was giving me trouble so I took the bus from my house to the downtown area. After I sat down, I realized the bus driver had given me a quarter too much change. There was that same old struggle in my mind: “You’d better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.” But then the corresponding thought: “Oh forget about it. It’s only a quarter. Who would worry about such a little amount? Anyway the bus company gets too much fare and they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from God and keep quiet.” When my stop came, I paused at the driver’s side a moment and handed him the quarter saying, “You gave me too much change.” To my surprise, the bus driver said, “Aren’t you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking lately about going back to church somewhere. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.”

As the old saying goes, for many people you might be the only Bible they ever read.

“LORD, help us to walk in Your ways, to both walk and talk the same things this day, in Jesus’ name.”