“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.” Colossians 4:5
One of my greatest regrets as a teenager, is the fact that my double lifestyle didn’t influence anyone for the Kingdom. Yes I had friends and many of them were just like me, good kids that didn’t get in any serious trouble. But when I look back on that now, I have to confess I didn’t live wisely among them. Though I was a Christian, they would have never known it by watching my life. Now I’m not saying that I wish I would have taken my family Bible to School and beat people to death with it, or stood up on a lunchroom table and shouted ‘turn or burn!’ (that’s weird to me!) I simply wish I would have taken the opportunity to be a light in the everyday hustle and bustle of High School.
Now fast forward 15 years to today. One of the reasons I work with teenagers is because I want them to take advantage of some of the opportunities that I never took advantage of. The reason I post scripture and random thoughts or experiences on Facebook, Twitter, and this Blog, are all done with the hope of taking advantage of every opportunity I have to live wisely and encourage others with the Hope and Forgiveness I have found in Christ Jesus. Am I perfect …. NO WAY!!! But I try to live everyday in a way that first please God, and second, can inspire others.
I don’t know about you, but I want to maximize my influence by living wisely so others can find Christ, or be encouraged in their journey with Him. At the end of this life, I want to hear, “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant!” not, I wish you would have …! What about you? How will you use the opportunity you have to influence others?
Father, I am excited about the opportunities you give me, but help me see the opportunities I am not seeing. Let me be a light even if no-one else is watching. Help me to live wisely in all areas of my life, not just the ones where I think I need to. Help me to be authentic and real whether I am in private or in public, so you are glorified and pleased by the way that I live. May my life be an example to many! In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!
When you read Colossians 4 what speaks to you?
Dan Gould 