Colossians 4:5 - 6 "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."
I have the pleasure of meeting a lot of people - of all walks of life and demographics. If you think about it - most of us do. People are EVERYWHERE. (Raise your hand if you are NOT a people person... okay, if you actually did that, you are MY kind of people... :) But think of it - you may find yourself in line to pay for something at the grocery store - PEOPLE. You may be sitting next to strangers on a plane - PEOPLE. You may even find yourself at a table eating lunch with others around you - you got it... PEOPLE. I know it. I am stating the obvious. This world is absolutely peopled with people. You're a people. I'm a people.... we are on the same page, right? Have you ever thought about how much of an impact your person can have on other people? A smile? Striking up a conversation? Being an encouragement?
I tend to liken how we tend to go through our days as if we are driving on the freeway - my day is like my car = My "bubble". Anything inside my "bubble" is what matters and what I am focused on. However, there are hundreds of cars that represent hundreds people living their days in "bubbles" traveling quickly, sometimes even in the same lane... I can get so focused on MY "bubble" ...but there are lives going on in other "bubbles" too...it is an analogy - one that helps me remember that everyone is dealing with something - that we can be "driven" by what circumstances in our lives may be, or be so self-focused that we may miss out on helping out someone in need.
Colossians 4:5-6 says that we are to "make the most of every opportunity" and "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt"
It is a directive here - no matter where you are or what you are doing... we are to make the most out of EVERY opportunity with people. What's more, the conversations that we have are to be full of GRACE... even if we are upset about something... and seasoned with salt - in other words make them thirsty for The Living Water, to know and want to experience more of His Light! To bless someone and potentially change the direction of their day. To know "how to answer everyone" as there will be times where that spark of encouragement will lead to a conversation with purpose!
This all may sound a bit daunting - especially if you were a hand raiser from earlier in the post - just remember that you aren't selling you - you are reflecting HIM! For all that He has done and is doing in your life, these people around you can have the same hope. The first step is to pray for those opportunities, for our eyes to be open to something other than what we see our day holding, basically - step out of your "bubble"- so that we as believers can be the honestly, gracious, salt that can encourage people. It doesn't take much - but will impact the hearts of many and I guarantee - it will impact yours!
Go ahead and show your Source of Light, Hope, and JOY - the more that you do, the easier it is!
Philippians 4:13 - A great verse to look up if you don't know it.
Maybe you are one who is needing encouragement? Blogs are just another "vehicle" to offer communication and prayer support.
As always free to free to post any questions, requests, or thoughts and I will get back to you:).