AUGUST 24

Colossians 4:6

                   WATCH YOUR WORDS...

Boon looked up from his plate as he and his family were eating dinner. “You know what?” he asked. “Today I remembered what Pastor said about witnessing and being the salt of the earth, and I decided to witness to Keith. He’s always doing bad stuFF . Like... he swears sometimes, and he’s mean to the little kids, and today I saw him cheat. So after school, I told him he was a sinner going to hell, and that he should repent.”

“Whoa! Sounds like you came on a little strong,” said Dad. “What else did you tell him?”

“I invited him to come to church,”replied Boon,“but he says he already goes. He must be silly to go church if he isn’t a Christian yet.”

“I hope you didn’t tell him that,” said Dad. “Did you?” “Well... sort of,” said Boon.

“Boon, if you insult the person you’re talking to, he’ll probably just get angry and and will not listen to you share the Gospel,” warned Dad.

Boon frowned. “I was just trying to witness,” he said. He picked up the salt shaker and started to sprinkle salt onto his potatoes. After just a few shakes, the top fell off , and the salt came pouring out onto his food. Boon looked in dismay at his plate.

“Oh, no!” cried Mom jumping up to help. “I guess I didn’t put the top on tight when I filed the shakers this afternoon!”

“You know, Boon,” said Dad, “you got too much salt on your plate, and it spoiled your food. I think that in a way, maybe you gave Keith too much ‘salt’ today, too. When you hit him with all that talk, you may have given him too much too fast, and it could spoil his interest in spiritual things.”

Boon got up to get a new plate. “Do you think so?” he asked. “I’m afraid so,” replied Dad. “Why not apologize to him tomorrow? Don’t stop witnessing, but next time, try to be kind and tactful. Be sensitive to the other person’s feelings.”

Thought: Do you witness to your friends? It’s important that you do so. You may be the only Christian they know-the only one who will tell them about Jesus. Show love and concern when you witness.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the reminder that my friends have feelings just like I do. And when I need to share or witness to them, even if they need to hear some harsh thing, I have to tell them lovingly. Please give you the right words. In Jesus’ name – amen.