The Habit of Radiance

Sharing your faith as a way of life

“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” —Colossians 4:5–6 

I remember, as a brand-new Christian, being so excited about my faith. Jesus was changing my life, and I wanted the world to know. I sat down with a few of my friends and started sharing everything I had learned. Soon the room grew awkwardly quiet. One of my friends said, “Wait, I respect your spiritual beliefs, but you’re not trying to convert me, are you?” Well, yeah, I was, but I hadn’t really thought it through. They all looked at me with mildly offended glares. I suddenly felt uncomfortable. 

How does a follower of Jesus talk to people about Christ in a culture like ours? Paul’s advice is incredibly helpful: 

“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ ... that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:2–6) 

What should we do before we share about Jesus? According to Paul, we should pray. When you make time for intercession and requests, it’s important to pray specifically for those who are far from God. Pray that they will be saved (Romans 10:1). Pray that God opens their eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4). Pray for the right words to say and for an open door. 

Next, Paul instructs us on what to say, and rather than giving us a script to recite or points to memorize, we are told to “walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” Paul is pushing us beyond evangelism scripts and Scripture quotes to lovingly engage people. Learn their story, listen to their heartbeat, and God will show you a key to unlock their interest. 

Once we start stepping out, Paul gives us some instruction on what we should talk about: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). Don’t try to answer all their questions or solve all their problems. Instead, let your speech be gracious—tell them about your encounter with grace! Share about what he has done for you, and do it in a way that connects to their stories as you learn about them. Tell people how good he is! 

In the middle of his instructions about sharing our faith, Paul tells us that we should be “making the best use of the time” (Colossians 4:5). The Greek language has two words to express the concept of time. The first is the word chronos, which refers to chronological time, and the other is kairos, which literally means a supreme moment, an appointed time, or a moment in which God intervenes. When Paul instructs us to make the best use of the time, he doesn’t use the word chronos; he uses kairos. He is saying, “Make the best use of supreme moments.” Not all time is created equal. God has woven into each day supreme moments—moments where someone’s heart is open or someone’s soul is ready—and you have been placed in that moment by God to share your story of grace. 

If you will step out and begin sharing now, something supernatural will happen in your life. Whether you have been following Jesus for thirty years or thirty days, sharing your faith will ignite a spiritual fire on the inside. 

Habit 1 challenged us to spend the first hour of the morning alone with God. Habit 2 gives application to your growing love for God and stretches your faith in extraordinary ways. 

Habit 2: Share your faith every week. 

Jesus, I want to share my faith every week. Wake me up; open the doors of opportunity; change my heart. I say yes. Use me, God, as you never have before.