Mission Venture Ministries

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. (Colossians 4:5) 

This verse provides guidance on how Christians should conduct themselves, particularly in their interactions with non-believers. It emphasizes two key points: 

It instructs believers to “be wise in the way you act toward outsiders” or those outside the Christian faith. This means Christians should exercise discernment and thoughtfulness in their behavior and words when interacting with non-believers. The goal is to present a consistent, positive witness that clearly reflects the message of Jesus Christ. 

The second part of the verse encourages Christians to “make the most of every opportunity.” This can be interpreted as using time effectively and taking advantage of chances to share one’s faith. Paul, who wrote this letter, was acutely aware of how precious time is having faced many hardships in his ministry. The underlying message being that life is short, and believers should be motivated to share the gospel with others while they can. 

So how does a Christian put this verse in action? 

• Be prepared to share about their beliefs when opportunities arise.
• Use time wisely, recognizing its value in light of eternity. 

The overall intent is for believers to live in a way that attracts others to the Christian faith, while actively seeking to make a positive impact with the time they have. This requires both wisdom in one’s approach and a sense of urgency in using opportunities effectively. 

The key to stay close to God is being alert to His leading, using wisdom and discernment, and stepping out in faith when you sense a divine opportunity, trusting God’s presence and power rather than in your own strength. 

So, how do we sense a divine opportunity? 

Christians always need to be attentive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. For instance there are times when opportunities present themselves that seem too perfect to be random; this happens when we have this incredible feeling that we should talk or share with someone.     

When this happens, this is the moment when you need to step out in faith and trust God. The Bible tells us in many places that the Holy Spirit will endeavor to prompt you, lead you and guide you (Romans 8:14). Therefore, it is vital for you to follow His lead and obey His prompting. He will lead you, guide you, and help you to make right choices as John 16:13 states: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.” 

Additionally 1 John 2:27 tells us that one of the main job of the Holy Spirit is to “abide in Christ,” that is to live in fellowship with Him, trust Him, and depend on Him. 

Remember to rely on the Holy Spirit is to use wisdom and discernment when evaluating potential divine opportunities. Seek God’s guidance through prayer, even if it is in the spur of the moment, and be open to His leading, even if the opportunity comes in unexpected form. 

Once you get the go ahead, don’t vacillate since some doors close, never to open again. Let me explain.           

There was a pastor who traveled to a large city each week and on his way he stopped at a gas station to fill his car up and to get a cup of coffee. He always wanted to witness to Veronica the cashier but never had enough time to do so since he was constantly late once he got there. One day he determined that he would make time and leave his house earlier, and so he did. Once he reached the gas station, as usual he filled his car with gas and went inside to pay and to get his cup of coffee, but Veronica was not there. Inquiring about her whereabouts, he found out that she had passed away just a week ago. He was devastated to say the least. He knew that the Lord forgave him for not taking the time to witness to her, however, he lived the rest of his life thinking about the lost opportunity he had had of not knowing where Veronica would spend eternity. 

This is a true story and it made a very big impact on my Christian life. Looking back, I have had lost opportunities also, not as tragic as this one. Never the less, lost opportunity to witnessing to someone or being there to pray for them when a need is displayed have now been the focus of my life. 

This lesson is near and dear to my heart and I hope it will make an impact on your life as the story of this pastor did for me. 

Therefore, always remember that if you are a Christian, “the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:12). 

*******