December 27, 2025 Devo

This verse reminded me of so many people who complain about how ungodly their workplace or school is. In fact, some will use the term “pagans” to refer to their coworkers and classmates. And maybe they are. But they get so focused on the circumstances that they overlook the opportunity! The Apostle Paul didn’t see environments filled with pagan people as places to avoid. He saw them as places to engage! In fact, when I read this verse, I thought of another verse about Paul. “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” (Acts 16:25 NLT) Paul and Silas were literally singing while in a pagan land. God used that time of singing to touch lives and do some incredible things!
Now I’m not telling you to go to work this week with a boom box and break out into a medley of Christian songs. But I am telling you that you have the opportunity to be salt and light to a tasteless and dark world. How? Glad you asked. First, you have to change your attitude. Focus on the light that is within you rather than the darkness that is around you. “Greater is the one in you than the one in the world.” Stop playing like you’re the victim. You’ve already won! You’re just waiting for the game to be over and the clock to run out so we can all go Home. Stop moping around as if the cross was the end. Jesus ROSE FROM THE DEAD! And He is alive in YOU!!
Second, you have to stop seeing people as “bad” and start seeing them as “lost.” People are vulgar and mean and awful because they have all kinds of pain in their lives that you know nothing about. Jesus knew this. That’s why He wasn’t afraid to attend their parties, sit down at their tables, or visit their homes. He knew that you don’t change people by condemning them. So He changed them by loving them. He met them with healing, compassion, and friendship. His life was a song of grace among them. And they adored Him for it.
So how about it? Can YOU sing a song in a land filled with pagans? I’ll bet you can. Bring a good flavor to your tasteless place. Be the light in your dark land. Let your life sing a beautiful song of God’s grace where you live and work. And remember: the other prisoners are listening! That’s God’s Word for you today.