Matthew 28:18–20 · Acts 1:8 · Colossians 4:2–6
Remember the mission
After his resurrection, Jesus sent his disciples to make disciples of all nations. Before his ascension, he promised them the Holy Spirit’s power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. The mission reaches both the familiar places around us and the people we might otherwise overlook.
It is easy for a church to spend its energy on its own comforts and forget the people outside its walls. Jesus has given us good news to carry. Your workplace, your neighborhood, and the people you see each week are places where witness can begin. We do not need a program before we can care about a person.
Start with prayer
Paul tells the church in Colossae to be steadfast in prayer, watchful and thankful, and to ask God to open a door for the message of Christ (Colossians 4:2–4). Even Paul asked others to pray that he would speak clearly. We can do the same. Name the people in your life before God. Ask for their good, for an open door, and for words that are true and kind.
Prayer changes how we see people. A neighbor becomes someone whose story we want to hear. We may discover an opportunity to listen, to offer practical help, or to speak about the hope we have in Jesus. We cannot force a heart open, and we do not have to pretend to know every answer.
Tell the story of Jesus and your own
If you worry that someone will ask a question you cannot answer, remember what you do know. You can tell the story of Jesus—his death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and promised return. You can tell the truth about what he has done in your life. You can also say, ‘I don’t know; let me look into that.’ Honesty serves the gospel better than a forced answer.
Paul’s counsel continues: walk wisely toward outsiders, make the most of the time, and let your speech be gracious (Colossians 4:5–6). Witness is not an argument to win at someone else’s expense. It is a truthful, attentive way of speaking about the Savior we follow.
Pray, look, and speak
Here is a simple practice for the week: pray for someone by name, look for a natural opening to listen or serve, and speak graciously when the opportunity comes. The Lord of the harvest sends workers into his field (Luke 10:1–2). Let us be willing to go where he places us.