WALK WISELY
Friday, October 31, 2014
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C O L O S S I A N S 4 : 5 - 6
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
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Hear the Apostle's final plea to his readers--Walk wisely and talk graciously.
The Gospel was spreading like fire. Though still in its infancy the Church was growing--there were believers in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth--just as the Lord Himself had promised there would be. (Acts 1:8).
Paul was anxious that the work begun would continue unhindered. He instructed the Christians to make the most of every opportunity and to live wisely before the unbelievers.
Christians were viewed with suspicion and distrust in the first century. Because they refused to burn incense to the Roman and Greek gods and goddesses they were called atheists. According to Radmacher, "Some accused the early Christians of participating in orgies because of their talk of 'love feasts' (Jude 12). Others harbored suspicions that Christians were really cannibals, who ate and drank the blood and the body of the Lord."
It was vital that God's people lived virtuous and victorious lives if they were going to win the hearts and minds of their opponents.
When Dr. William Henry Houghton was called to pastor the Baptist Tabernacle in Atlanta, a detective was hired to follow and to report on his conduct. After several weeks the detective reported that Dr. Houghton's life indeed matched his preaching. In fact, the detective himself decided to become a Christian. With such exemplary integrity, it's not surprising that Dr. Houghton was invited to be President of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where he served until his promotion to glory in 1946.
Dwight L. Moody, founder of the Bible Institute that bore his name, said, "Every Bible should be bound in shoe-leather." Our talk and our walk should match.
If it was true of the first century Church, and true of the generation of Christians who preceded us, how much more is it true in our day? Oh that God would raise up "world changing" disciples in this generation who would love and live for "SIMPLY JESUS!"
The Gospel was spreading like fire. Though still in its infancy the Church was growing--there were believers in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth--just as the Lord Himself had promised there would be. (Acts 1:8).
Paul was anxious that the work begun would continue unhindered. He instructed the Christians to make the most of every opportunity and to live wisely before the unbelievers.
Christians were viewed with suspicion and distrust in the first century. Because they refused to burn incense to the Roman and Greek gods and goddesses they were called atheists. According to Radmacher, "Some accused the early Christians of participating in orgies because of their talk of 'love feasts' (Jude 12). Others harbored suspicions that Christians were really cannibals, who ate and drank the blood and the body of the Lord."
It was vital that God's people lived virtuous and victorious lives if they were going to win the hearts and minds of their opponents.
When Dr. William Henry Houghton was called to pastor the Baptist Tabernacle in Atlanta, a detective was hired to follow and to report on his conduct. After several weeks the detective reported that Dr. Houghton's life indeed matched his preaching. In fact, the detective himself decided to become a Christian. With such exemplary integrity, it's not surprising that Dr. Houghton was invited to be President of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where he served until his promotion to glory in 1946.
Dwight L. Moody, founder of the Bible Institute that bore his name, said, "Every Bible should be bound in shoe-leather." Our talk and our walk should match.
If it was true of the first century Church, and true of the generation of Christians who preceded us, how much more is it true in our day? Oh that God would raise up "world changing" disciples in this generation who would love and live for "SIMPLY JESUS!"
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