Do you ever look at a the people around you and wonder what their story is? 
Acts 17:23 “For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.”
Paul was in Athens waiting for Silas and Timothy to join him. He walked around the city learning about the people of the city. He was learning their story. It’s a good thing he did. Turns out the people of this particular city loved to sit and hear new things. The Bible actually says they spent time in nothing but telling or hearing something new (Acts 17:21). 
This was a great thing for Paul. They were eagerly waiting to hear what he would say. I bet it was useful that he had spent a little time learning about the people of this city. When the time came for him to speak to them, he was ready. He had learned that they had an alter to an unknown god and he knew exactly who that unknown god was!
How important is it for Christians to learn about the people around them? The Bible says very! 1 Peter 3:15 – “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”. Paul did exactly that. 
We can be ready by not only reading the Bible, praying, and drawing close to God but also by paying attention to the lives of the people around us. Just like Paul we can can be ready to speak of the love we have and know how to speak specifically to each person. All it takes is us taking the time to pay attention to those around us and learning their story. Just like Paul did. 
We rush around Daily making sure to be at the prescribed place at the prescribed time. Sometimes I feel as though I am just checking off a list. Happy when I actually complete it by bed time. All those things I did and all those places I have been amount to nothing if I am not there for Christ. That checklist will burn away but the interactions I have while doing could last into eternity. 
We are to be the salt of the earth, lights in the darkness. We can be present physically somewhere but not present mentally. I challenge myself to be more present wherever I go. To notice the people around me and to be ready and not caught off guard when someone interacts with me. To be ready to encourage when given the opportunity. This will only come with paying attention and being sensitive to the Holy Spirits leading. 
We can be like Paul. He loved the people of that town before he knew them. He loved them enough to learn their story and to be ready. Wether they would stone him or rejoice with him, he loved them. He was ready to give an account even when he was waiting on his friends to arrive. May we all be active in learning peoples stories and always sensitive to what God is doing in the lives of the people around us.