Colossians 4:2-6
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
“Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
The NLT phrases verse 6 this way: Colossians 4:6 (NLT)
“Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
As we head for Make a Difference Sunday with Don Sunshine we’ll be taking a look at some aspects of evangelism. Not how to talk to people about the Lord but what our attitudes should be like when engaging with those who don’t know Jesus.
I don’t put much stock in listening to secular music because the Bible instructs us to
“Fix (our) thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8
Much of secular is just the opposite: untrue, dishonorable, morally wrong and impure, ugly and shameful and unworthy of praise.
It’s kind of like being real hungry and looking through a barrel of rotten apples looking for one good one …
However … every once in a while a song comes along in secular music that has some good qualities and a seemingly Christian message.
One such song was recorded by Glen Campbell in 1970 called Try a Little Kindness and if you would indulge me, let’s listen to this song and see how it lines up with the Bible, that is of course, the ultimate test of truth.
Play video of Try a Little Kindness (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX63u9LEhdQ)
That’s a great song! Let’s take a look at some of the lyrics …
Let’s start from the end!
“And if you try a little kindness, you’ll overlook the blindness
Of the narrow minded people on their narrow minded streets.”
Everyone is narrow minded, even those who claim to be tolerant of other people’s views.
Some Christians are narrow minded, not wanting to help the down and out thinking that they deserve what is happening to them.
This is not about becoming “broad minded” where we embrace sin.
The person who is lost may also be narrow minded about Jesus because of the lack of love shown by some Christians.
They may react to us in a judgmental way because of preformed opinions or the way they have been previous treated by other Christians. We need to be prepared for that!
When we try a little kindness, show the love of Christ to them they may very well see their need for Jesus.
What do we mean by “Try a little kindness?”
Jesus was the example for us
Matthew 9:36 says,
“When (Jesus) saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
If we try a little kindness and compassion and allow the love of Jesus to shine through us just a little bit we may find the pure joy of being used by God.
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So, let’s go back to the beginning of the song …
“If you see your brother standing by the road, with a heavy load, from the seeds he sowed.”
“And if you see your sister falling by the way …”
What about that? - You see them … now what?
Let’s assume for this discussion today that this brother and sister are those who at best know the ways of God. They’ve been raised in the church and know right from wrong. In the worst case scenario they are believers or former believers who have fallen into sin and may have even rejected Christ.
“with a heavy load, from the seeds he sowed”
What is our gut reaction? “You’ve made your bed, sleep in it.”
He already has a heavy load from the sins he’s committed
This man is not living in rebellion but is crushed by the rebellion that he has already committed
She is headed in the same direction
How does Scripture instruct us to engage with those who are headed into sin or are already being crushed by the result of sin?
Colossians 4:6 (NLT)
“Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
Galatians 6:1 (NLT)
“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”
James 5:19-20
“My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.”
For the one who is crushed by sin compassion and reconciliation with Christ is the top priority.
Condemnation is already profuse in their hearts.
So, that’s the brother or sister in Christ who has gone off into sin and is suffering the consequences.
Try a little kindness (compassion)
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What about the next group?
“Don’t walk around the down and out”
That’s when we encounter such situations and we go into
Sgt. Schultz mode (“I see nothing” video clip)
We’ve all done this at one time or another.
See a beggar on the street - look the other way and walk by
See someone at the end of a service who is crying and alone and instead of putting your arm around them, inquiring and praying with them you head for the door.
Don’t want to be late for lunch …
Someone else will pray with them …
That’s why we have a pastor …
Seems familiar, doesn’t it???
Luke 10:30-35 - the good Samaritan (tell in own words)
This week when pastor Karenlee and I were reading from the Reflecting God devotional on Wednesday there was a similar story.
(Actually read this from the Reflecting God devotional book)
“Joyce was so tired, she had just been through a dust storm and the travel hours were so much longer than she had planned. Finding her weary way to the back of the Wal-Mart store, she slowly pushed open the door to the rest room; loud sobbing greeted her coming from one of the stalls. Her weariness changed to compassion as she stood and prayed for the one who was in distress; finally the door opened and out emerged a young lady who was very pregnant. She looked at her and asked, “Do you need a hug?” She silently nodded her head and Joyce’s arms went around her in an embrace that lasted quite some time. Joyce found out her delivery date and promised to pray for her. Joyce still remembers her in prayer, seven years later.”
It is not easy to engage the unknown person with the unknown problem.
It’s not easy but if we’re becoming more like Christ we must do what’s not easy.
It’s not easy but it is necessary.
Just look at this verse:
2 Corinthians 1:3
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort …”
If God is the Father of compassion and we are His children …?
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“Try a little kindness and show a little kindness, shine your light for everyone to see.”
In John 8:12 Jesus says,
“I am the light of this world.”
And in Matthew 5:14 Jesus says,
“You are the light of this world.”
The light of Christ shows through devoted Christians.
This light, this light of compassion and kindness draws the hurting
When we do this we may be a witness
to the person who is down and out
to others through that person
to others who see the love of Jesus shining through us to the down and out.
As we head for Make a Difference weekend let’s examine how we interact or don’t interact with those who have a heavy load from their sin, or those who are headed that way or those who are down and out.
How are we doing with that?
Do we react to the lost with kindness and compassion?
Do we react to those who have returned to the grip of sin with kindness and compassion?
Are we demonstrating the love of Christ in action?
As we go through this week let’s take the time to observe ourselves and evaluate our reactions to:
To those suffering as the result of sin
To those headed for sin
To the down and out
Are we like Jesus who
Matthew 9:36 says,
“When (Jesus) saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Because if they don’t have Jesus that’s exactly what they are!
Song (Love Through Me) as an invitation
Prayer and dismissal
