“Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:5-6

How should we, as Christians, conduct ourselves in our dealings with those outside Christ’s church in this world? This the Apostle Paul answers in the closing words of his instruction to the believers at the church in Colosse: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

We, as believers ought to live our lives wisely in regard to those outside Christ’s church, redeeming the time and making use of every opportunity God gives to make known to them the truth revealed to us by God in His Word.

We may not realize it, but how we live and conduct our business here in this world can either make one want to know more of our faith or make one want nothing to do with it. Sometimes an uncharitable word is all it takes to close the door to further witness. Thus, how important it is to be charitable and honest in all our dealings with those not only inside but also outside the church!

We ought to buy back the time commonly given to evil or frivolity and make use of every moment God gives us to share the good news of God’s mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus.

Our speech should be “always with grace,” reflecting the grace of God toward us in Christ Jesus. When we remember how much the Lord has forgiven us and to what lengths He went to bring about our salvation — even going to the cross and suffering and dying for our sins — should it be any trouble for us to speak kindly even to our enemies and to those who have mistreated us?

Being “seasoned with salt” means our conversations with those outside the church should neither be continual preaching against them nor only kind words devoid of any rebuke of the law and comfort of the Gospel. The Christian must wisely and consistently share the truth at every opportunity but use care not to drive away the unbeliever by too much preaching. We must not try to coerce people into the kingdom of God but, rather, share with them the truth and let the Holy Spirit convince hearts. Our role involves interspersing God’s truth in our conversations so as to raise awareness of the truth and draw interest in it, making it possible to continue to share the admonitions of the law and the good news of forgiveness and life through faith in Christ Jesus.

The way in which we converse with those outside Christ’s church may be different with each person, making it so important that our speech be always with grace and properly seasoned with salt so that we, in the right way, give an answer to every person. For this, we most certainly need the wisdom and direction of God’s Spirit in our daily lives and conversations.

But what if we have been less than honest and charitable in our dealings with those outside the church? What if, instead of being motivated by God’s grace toward us, we have dealt with someone from the selfishness and wickedness of our old sinful nature? What can we do?

There is no better way than to honestly admit our sins and misdeeds to the Lord Jesus and to those — even outside of Christ’s church — whom we have offended.

We know from God’s Word that God graciously forgives us for the sake of Christ’s blood, shed for us upon the cross, when we repent and look to Him in faith. And, when we admit our sins and failures and forgive the sins and failures of others, what better witness to our belief in the true righteousness of God and in our total dependence upon His grace and mercy toward us for Jesus’ sake!

We do not proclaim ourselves righteous and holy and the world sinful. We share and proclaim that we all have sinned and come short of God’s righteousness but that with God there is mercy and forgiveness for Jesus’ sake — imputed righteousness through faith in Christ (cf. Rom. 3:23ff.)! The Gospel we share is the good news that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom we are chief (cf. 1 Tim. 1:15-16). And, if God shows mercy to me when I look to Jesus in faith, He can and will show mercy to you as well when you repent of your sins and trust in Christ Jesus, your Savior!

O Holy Spirit, grant me wisdom in my dealings with those who do not yet know and trust in Christ Jesus, that my speech may reflect Your grace and that I might wisely use the time and opportunities given me to share the good news of God’s mercy toward sinners for Jesus’ sake. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]

“They read from the book, from the Law of God, with interpretation, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. Then Nehemiah the magistrate, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were teaching the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the LORD your God. Stop mourning and weeping.’ (This was because all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.) Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’ So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, ‘Hush! Because today is holy you should stop being so sorrowful.’ Then all the people went to eat, to drink, to send portions, and to enjoy a great celebration because they had understood the words declared to them.” Nehemiah 8:8-12

When we read and hear the words of our God and understand His holy Law, we have much over which to grieve and mourn for we as individuals and as a nation have all sinned against God and failed to live up to His perfect and holy will (cf. Rom. 3:9-23; Gal. 3:10).

The people of Israel, too, began to grieve and mourn when they heard the words of God’s Law and realized their sin against their God and Maker. Yet, because this day, the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles, was a holy day unto the LORD, Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites told the people not to weep and mourn, but to eat, drink and rejoice in the LORD as He had commanded (cf. Deut. 16:13-15).

While we might, as we consider the Word of the LORD and gain understanding, grieve and mourn over our many sins against God — over our many failures to keep God and His Word first and foremost in our lives, over our failures to live according to God’s commandments and to love others as we should and consider their needs before our own — yet we have so much for which to rejoice and give thanks.

We can give thanks and rejoice that our God so loved us that He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to die on the cross for us and redeem us from all our sins and iniquities (cf. John 3:16; 1 John 4:10; Gal. 3:13).

We can give thanks for the great privilege of gathering in His name, hearing His life-giving Word, and offering to Him our worship and praise.

And we can rejoice in the LORD and give thanks to Him for creating us, caring for us and blessing our labors.

We are to weep and lament over our sins and not take them lightly; but we also have reason to rejoice in the LORD, taking hold of His promises of mercy and forgiveness through faith in Christ Jesus (cf. Phil. 4:4). Remember: “the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

And so, on this Thanksgiving Day, though we could weep and mourn over our sins, let us rejoice and be glad in the LORD and His abundant mercy toward us in Christ Jesus! Let us offer up praise and thanksgiving unto Him with rejoicing! Let us bless the LORD and forget not all His benefits toward us (cf. Ps. 103)!

Remember that the Bible says: “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises unto Your name, O Most High …” (Ps. 92:1; cf. 1-4; Neh. 8:8-12).

O LORD God, we have sinned greatly against You and Your holy Law — we have failed to live up to Your holy commandments. Forgive us for the sake of Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death in our stead and grant us joy this day in Your grace and mercy and move us to offer up to You praise and thanksgiving for all Your blessings. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.]

1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were wise and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. 4 But the wise took jars of oil with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom delayed, they all rested and slept. 6 “But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.’ 9 “The wise answered, ‘No, lest there not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell it, and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they went to buy some, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us.’ 12 “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matthew 25:1-13 MEV

‘Are you wise or foolish in your preparations for Christ’s Return?’

Are you ready for Jesus Christ to return on the Last Day? As we read in 1 Thessalonians 5, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape” (v. 2-3).

Jesus told the parable of the Ten Virgins to admonish us to be watchful and ready at all times for His return.

In the parable, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins “who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.” The wise virgins took extra oil for their lamps so that they would be ready even if the “bridegroom delayed.” The foolish took only the oil in their lamps and did not consider the possibility that their lamps would go out before the bridegroom arrived.

As a result, these foolish virgins were not prepared and ready when the bridegroom came; and they did not, together with the wise virgins, enter with the bridegroom into the marriage feast.

With this parable, Jesus warns us against being foolishly unprepared for His return on the Last Day.

It is, of course, foolish to willfully continue in sin, thinking that Jesus’ coming will not catch us off guard and in impenitence. It is foolish to think that we can enjoy the deceitful pleasures of sin and yet, somehow, at the last moment, repent and still be saved. The Bible warns us against such thinking in passages such as Hebrews 10:26-31; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Romans 6:1-23; and Jesus’ parable in Matthew 24:45-51.

And, as the parable of the Ten Virgins shows us, it is foolish for us who believe in Christ today to assume all is well with our souls and fall asleep and not be watching for and expecting His return at any time. It is certainly foolish not to have our faith continually nourished and kept burning through the regular use of the Word of God and the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper), which is the oil in our lamps the Holy Spirit uses to preserve and strengthen our faith in Christ Jesus (AC V; FC, SD, XI, Par. 14-22; John 6:63; 8:31-32; Rom. 10:17; 2 Tim. 3:14-17; Phil. 1:6; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; 2:2-3).

If we do not make such provision through the continued use of the Word of God in our homes and the Word and Sacraments in our church, we may find our lamps empty and gone out — our faith dead — at Jesus’ coming.

And those who have no living, saving faith in Jesus Christ when He returns in Judgment will be shut out of heaven. It will be too late to rekindle faith at that time!

But those who have wisely provided oil for their lamps — those who continue to nourish their faith by remembering their Baptism, using the Word of God and receiving the Body and Blood of Christ given and shed for the remission of sins that the Holy Spirit may, through these means, keep their faith burning and alive, giving and assuring to them forgiveness for all their sins and life everlasting for Jesus’ sake — will enter into heaven with Jesus and enjoy its blessings forever (cf. 2 Thess. 1:4-12; Psalm 16:11; 17:15; Rev. 19:7-9; 21:1ff.).

God grant that you be wise and not foolish, that you be found ready, with your faith alive and burning, on the day of Christ’s return.

With my lamp well trimmed and burning, swift to hear and slow to roam, watching for Thy glad returning to restore me to my home. Come, my Savior, Come, my Savior, O my Savior, quickly come. Amen. (John S.B. Monsell, 1863, The Lutheran Hymnal, Hymn #606, Verse 4)

[Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.]

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” Colossians 4:2-4

The Apostle Paul, in prison for his testimony to the crucified and risen Christ, urges his fellow believers at Colosse to continue in prayer. And while they are praying to the Lord God, watching and giving thanks for God’s answers to their prayers, Paul urges them to remember him and his companions in their prayers as well.

Notice that Paul doesn’t request his release from prison, but rather the opportunity to speak of Christ and of the salvation Christ Jesus has purchased with His blood for all mankind. Paul desires the opportunity to tell the mystery of Christ — that which had been veiled before and only in part revealed through the prophecies of the Old Testament but was now made known in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Paul was in bonds for telling the truth about Messiah Jesus, and he requested the prayers of his fellow believers that he would be given further opportunity to tell of Jesus and of the forgiveness and life which Jesus won for all mankind — both Jew and Gentile — by His holy life and His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross for the sins of the world.

Paul asked for prayers on his behalf that he might make the mystery of Christ manifest and openly known to all. He asked for prayers that he might hold back nothing, even in the face of adversity, but speak the saving Gospel as he ought to speak it that his hearers might be moved to repent of their sinful ways and look in faith to Jesus and His cross for pardon and peace with God.

This should be the desire of all ministers of the Gospel — for open doors and opportunities to speak the truth and tell others about Jesus and His life, death and resurrection. And, this should be our prayer for all who are called to preach the Gospel — that they would hold back nothing of God’s Word, but preach the truth about man’s sinfulness and proclaim Christ Jesus and His blood shed upon the cross as the only hope for sinful mankind.

No matter what our circumstances or what obstacles would prevent us from speaking of Jesus and making known the plan of God for the salvation of the world — that great mystery which has been revealed to us in the coming of Christ Jesus and made known to us through the Word of God — let us pray that God would give us opportunities to speak of Jesus and of the forgiveness and life He won for all, and that we hold nothing back, but speak as we ought to speak, that others, too, may know Him and trust in Him as their Savior!

O Spirit of God, we thank You for making known to us the mystery of the Gospel — for revealing to us that Jesus is God the Son in human flesh and that He has made full atonement for all our sins by His holy life and innocent sufferings and death upon the cross for the sins of the world. Open doors that we and all your called ministers may make known the mystery of the Gospel. Give us boldness to speak as we ought to speak, testifying against unrighteousness and sin but proclaiming divine mercy and forgiveness through faith in the crucified and risen Savior, Christ Jesus. In His name, we pray. Amen.

[Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Matthew 22:15-22
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel to entangle Him in His words. 16 They sent their disciples to Him with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God truthfully, and are swayed by no one. For You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness and said, “Why test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” They brought Him a denarius. 20 He said to them, “Whose is this image and inscription?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard these words, they were amazed, and left Him and went on their way.

Philippians 3:17-21
17 Brothers, become fellow imitators with me and observe those who walk according to our example. 18 For many are walking in such a way that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. I have told you of them often and tell you again, even weeping. 19 Their destination is destruction, their god is their appetite, their glory is in their shame, their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our body of humiliation, so that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working of His power even to subdue all things to Himself.

Though the legal challenges continue, we in the United States of America have just held a general election and through it, God appoints earthly rulers to rule over us and to preserve peace and civil order among us.

The Scriptures reveal to us God’s purpose in placing civil rulers over us.

In 1 Peter 2:13-17, we read: “Submit yourselves to every human authority for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme, or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and to praise those who do right. For it is the will of God that by doing right you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free people, do not use your liberty as a covering for evil, but live as servants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, we read: “Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone, for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

So, we see that God gives us rulers to punish evildoers and praise those who do what is good and right that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life and be able to preach God’s Word and also worship Him and serve Him in accord with His Word. And, indeed, such rule of government is needed that God’s Word might be preached among us and to those lost that all might repent of their sins and trust in Christ as their Savior.

While the people of this world remain under the spiritual kingdom and rule of darkness, we believers have our second citizenship (our primary citizenship) in heaven, in God’s kingdom, and we await the return of our Savior to change our weak and humble bodies into glorious and heavenly bodies like that of our Lord Jesus.

In Philippians 3:20-21, we read: “But our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our body of humiliation, so that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working of His power even to subdue all things to Himself.”

The question we consider today is how do we live in a God-pleasing way as members of two kingdoms — the kingdom or rule in which God placed us in this world and in the kingdom of our crucified and risen God and Savior? We look to the Word of God for the answer.

The Jewish people in Jesus’ day faced this same dilemma. They counted themselves as a nation and kingdom under God’s rule and law, and yet their nation was under the rule of the Roman caesar — an unbelieving ruler whose laws certainly were not in full accord with the Scriptures.

The Pharisees sought to use this dilemma to their advantage against Jesus by sending some of their disciples, along with political supporters of King Herod, to Jesus with the question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

They wanted a yes or no answer because, if Jesus said yes, they could accuse Him of being a traitor in regard to His own people and a sinner for voicing support for a pagan and corrupt Roman ruler. If Jesus said no, the Herodians would bring word to Herod that Jesus was advocating insubordination and rebellion against the king, which would likely have meant arrest and execution by Herod.

But Jesus was not fooled by their words of flattery or by the purpose of their question, and Jesus’ answer still gives us direction today as citizens of God’s kingdom and yet citizens of earthly kingdoms.

Jesus asked for a coin used to pay taxes to the Roman ruler and asked, “Whose is this image and inscription?” And when they answered, “Caesar’s,” He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Verse 22 tells us that “when they heard these words, they were amazed, and left Him and went on their way.” But, as I said, these words of Jesus still apply to us today.

Like the Caesars and the Roman emperors, our rulers and government officials are often anything but godly and just. Not only was homosexuality and pedophilia common in the Roman Empire, but unwanted infants and children were abandoned on the dung heaps to die. And our rulers, many falsely claiming to be Christian, have stooped to the same depths of depravity — supporting the killing of unborn children, euthanizing the old and the so-called “useless,” defending the practice of homosexuality, and the list goes on.

And we must remember that it was under the godless rule of the Romans that Jesus said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” The Romans ruled (and it was possibly under the reign of Nero) when Paul wrote the words of Romans 13:1-7: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil works. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from him, for he is the servant of God for your good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain, for he is the servant of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him who practices evil. So it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for the sake of conscience. For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are God’s servants, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, respect to whom respect is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honor to whom honor is due.”

So, how should we live as citizens of the United States, even if God gives authority to rulers and a government which support abortion, euthanasia, sexual perversion and other evils? Whose image is on our coins and currency? And, perhaps we should ask who defends us from foreign armies? Who arrests and punishes evildoers and provides us with at least some degree of peace and safety? Who builds our roads and provides countless other services? Who provides us with Medicare and sends us Social Security checks. So, unless we are willing to give up all the benefits our government provides, we are to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s — as St. Paul writes, “Render to all what is due them: taxes to whom taxes are due, respect to whom respect is due, fear to whom fear is due, and honor to whom honor is due.”

But Jesus also said we are to render “to God the things that are God’s.” What does this mean?

We are also citizens of Christ’s kingdom, and thus our focus is on Christ and on His eternal kingdom. We do not set our minds on earthly things or to gratify the longings of our flesh, we set our minds on the things of God and seek to live as children of God, looking forward to the day of Christ’s return and our being changed into his image and likeness.

St. Paul wrote to the Colossians (3:1-4): “If you then were raised with Christ, desire those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth. For you are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life shall appear, then you also shall appear with Him in glory.”

We are to put off our old sinful nature with its evil works and put on the new nature which is ours in Christ and live in accord with God’s Word. As St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians (Eph. 4:22-24), we are to “put off the former way of life in the old nature, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and … put on the new nature, which was created according to God in righteousness and true holiness.”

How does this relate to our duties as citizens in this world? We do all in our power to support rulers who uphold what is good and right according to God’s Word, and we expose the sin and hypocrisy of those who live and rule contrary to God’s Word, warning them of the eternal consequences of their sins and calling them to repent of their evil ways, look to the LORD God for forgiveness and then conform to God’s Word.

And when it comes to our obedience to civil rulers, we obey and honor them where we can but, should rulers forbid what God commands or command what God forbids, we answer with Peter and the apostles (Acts 5:29): “We must obey God rather than men.”

In this way, we render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and to God the things which are God’s.

And what if we have disobeyed God by failing to render to our rulers the honor due them or to God the honor due to His name? What if we have failed to obey civil rulers, neglected or circumvented paying our taxes, grumbled or complained about our rulers, spoken evil of them or neglected to pray for them?

And, what if we have failed to render to God the things which are God’s? What if we have used government laws and guidelines to excuse our disobedience to God’s commands? What if we have neglected God’s Word and Sacrament? What if we have failed to speak the words of God in fear of government retribution? What if we have failed to live as citizens of heaven and have become overly focused on the things of this world?

The answer is to repent — to examine our lives in the light of God’s Word, to acknowledge our disobedience and failings and to look to Christ and His cross for pardon and forgiveness and for the strength to amend our lives and live for Him.

John writes (1 John 2:1-2): “My little children, I am writing these things to you, so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

God grant to you pardon and forgiveness for all your sins through faith in Jesus and His cross, and God grant to you the wisdom and the strength to “render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.]