It’s Thursday. Anyone around you is your neighbor. Who will you see today? Today’s focus is your neighbor. Follow this pattern for Thursday: 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.

So, who are your neighbors? The people next door or across the street or in your apartment building? What are their names? What do they do for a living or in their free time? Do they have a family? If yes, what do you know about them? If you had to pray for them, what would you say?

Sometimes we might think that telling someone about Jesus means we have to have Scripture passages memorized, know apologetics inside and out, and be able to have an answer to every question. And while there is a place for all of this, Paul says “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders.” Many people aren’t ready to hear the Gospel in your first conversation with them. Instead, telling someone about Jesus usually starts with two simple acts: prayer and listening.

● Pick one neighbor who you think might be far from Jesus and commit to pray for them/their family every day, especially that God would open a door for the message of the Gospel.

● Pick a second neighbor you want to know better and listen to their story.