Is there someone in your life you want reach in a very special way? Would you like to bring a family member or close friend to Jesus? Are you unsure how you can go about it? Do you need some advice?
Those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior know the importance of doing so. We long for family and friends to do the same. It is especially important for us if we have experienced God bringing us from a very bad place into a wonderful place.
Some of us have been in some really bad places. Perhaps you were addicted to drugs or alcohol. Perhaps you have battled with emotional distress or depression. Perhaps you felt like a complete failure due to being continually put down by others. You know the negative experiences you have been lifted from.
Once we are pulled out of those bad places and experience the goodness of God, we want everyone to experience it. We no longer understand why anyone would want to stay in that bad place. We know the dramatic difference between living one way versus the other. We have a passion for bringing others into a better place. Unfortunately, we sometimes struggle with how to convince them to do so.
Our first step is to show mercy, just as God has shown mercy to us. We must be gracious toward them and show patience. As they make statements against what we are telling them, we cannot refute their statements in anger or hate. Patience, mercy, and perseverance are required. We will need to be creative, thinking of different ways to explain our belief. We must never give up.
I pray we all commit to bringing our family and friends to Jesus. I pray we show mercy to those who doubt. I pray each one of us will never give up attempting to expand the kingdom of God. Be merciful. Be gracious. Persevere. Never give up. Be creative. Tell your story.
Jude 22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Marty Pressey 