Friends

For many years I was taught to witness to people that did not have the same Biblical beliefs as we did. I was further taught that the only reason you would have contact (in a friendly manner) with these people was to win them to the Lord. You would “befriend” them to win them. In the process you would minister to them but with the ultimate goal of winning them to the Lord.

What was winning them to the Lord? It meant to win them over to the particular Biblical belief of Christianity. Anyone who did not believe like we did NEEDED salvation, whether they were Christian believers or not.

Does this sound familiar? If so then we can relate.

This belief sets up a superior/inferior relationship with people. Why? Because I have the truth and you need it. It does not matter whether the person needs it or not, that is not the point. The point is the attitude of superiority: the holier-than-thou attitude.

It is this negative attitude that has alienated many people. In our sincere, heartfelt desire to see people have a better life we set ourselves up as judges. We are in a world that judges us at every turn. I, like you just want to be accepted the way I/we are without qualification.

Personally I just want to enjoy you for who you are, in so doing I will fulfill Math 5:14-16.

Math 5:

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Strong’s Concordance says this about “light”. This is only an excerpt of the whole explanation, however it does highlight what I am talking about

5457 2a) God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality 2b) of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it 2c) that which is exposed to the view of all, openly, publicly 2d) reason, mind 2d1) the power of understanding esp. moral and spiritual truth

Just being a friend to someone is a precious thing in this rapidly changing, unstable world. Allowing our light to shine will affect more people than we ever know of. It is the gentle touch of love on a person’s soul that draws people to Jesus

It is so good to remember that it is God that gives the increase. This relieves us of the burden of doing the work, so to speak. All we have to do is let our light so shine. Some are gifted with the ability to persuade people and others are not so, yet we all can let our light so shine.

KJV 1 Corinthians 3:

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

What is the most desired thing in this world? What do people desire about ALL else. What are people willing to die for? LOVE.

1Corinthians chapter 13 gives us an overview of how love is expressed. If we can do this then we are going a long way to letting our light so shine.

KJV 1Co 13:

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth:

The desire to be loved by another human is like an unquenchable thirst within the soul. That is why Jesus gave us, His disciples a new commandment.

Joh 13:

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Does this mean that we become apathetic in our desire to spread the gospel? No, it is only in the method that Jesus has endowed us with that we are to spread the gospel. Everyone can strive towards loving others.

We are certainly admonished to:

KJV Mark 16:

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

KJV LUK 24:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

However Jesus points out in the book of Revelation that coming to Him is a personal choice.

KJV Revelation 22:

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Strong’s: 1) to will, have in mind, intend 1a) to be resolved or determined, to purpose 1b) to desire, to wish 1c) to love 1c1) to like to do a thing, be fond of doing 1d) to take delight in, have pleasure

Coming to Him is a freewill thing. If a person rejects the gospel then they are rejecting Jesus not us.

If a person does not come to Jesus, does this mean that we are to reject them? Not at all, we all need friends. Who knows, our loving witness might just draw them into a relationship with Jesus. If not then we must respect their decision. Freedom is the ability to choose and be respected for that choice.

Since I have started to believe this way I have become more at peace with my relationship with Jesus. I still care about the other person’s soul yet I respect their decisions.

May the blessing of Jesus follow you. May His love envelope you. May you love yourself and others like Jesus loves you.
Please think of 1Co 13 when you listen to this song.