Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ… Philippians 1:27a KJV
I remember as a young boy being under the care of my grandmother who was over the drama department at our church. So, whenever it was time for Christmas and Easter programs, you guessed it – this guy always had to participate. I would remember when it came time for my play parts and speeches, she would lovingly (and frustratingly) remind me to “speak up” – stressing the importance of things like diction, articulation, cadence, and inflection that were useful tools in bringing the words I spoke to life.
When the creators of the King James translation in the 1600s used the word “conversation” to communicate what Paul is saying to the Philippians, it meant way more than what it means today, merely an exchange of words and ideas. Conversation back then captured the whole of our dealings with one another, how we conduct ourselves in the world. It literally meant “the act of living with”. Conversation, in practice, included the day to day decisions, reactions, and responses that fully define how we perceive and receive each other.
So what does this mean in relation to your ability to witness, you ask? Simple. As important are the words you say when sharing the good news – the gospel – is the “good news” life they see. Does your conversation – your confession and your conduct – declare good news worth hearing? If not, I encourage you to speak up! Let your daily interactions with the people around you bring the words you eventually speak to them concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ to life.
Prayer
Father, I want my life to mirror the good news you bring to it. May every fiber of my being speak to others of the hope they themselves can find in You and bring You glory. In the Name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
