With Gentleness and Respect

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.

Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:2-6 (NRSV)

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15 (NRSV)

WHEN I was a new Christian I wanted to base my faith on facts, not on feelings. So I became equipped with knowledge of the scriptures, prophecy, and scientific evidence to support truth of the Bible's content. I was so excited by the truths I learned that I wanted to tell the whole world, especially my family and friends. But over the last 20 years, God has taught me something equally significant to being able to build a case for Christ. That is, God calls us to be bearers of the truth, not enforcers of the faith.

I made this discovery when a friend kindly sent me a letter in which she wrote, "I would appreciate it if you would respect my beliefs." Humbled and thankful that she loved me enough to try to preserve our friendship, I realized my responsibility is to be an instrument of the Holy Spirit--not a know-it-all..

Over time, I have become more sensitive to how others receive what I so desperately want to share. Now I try to sense when I've said enough and leave the rest up to the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" (1 Cor. 3:6, NRSV). Rather than risk offending by saying too much, when I share my faith with someone, I breathe a prayer instead.

Sherri Stumpf (Ohio, USA)

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to share your love in a loving way to those who don't know you. Amen.

Thought for the Day

We share the Good News, but only God's grace changes hearts.

Prayer Focus

To know when we've said enough

This material is reprinted from The Upper Room magazine, copyright 2010 by The Upper Room, Inc., P.O. Box 340004, Nashville, TN 37203-0004, and is used by permission of the publisher.