“And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.” (Jude 22 NLT)
In our enthusiasm to see lost people come to Christ and be saved, we sometimes forget the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling. I have to ask myself, and you, are we making a difference? Are we seeing lost people come to the Cross and leaving their sins there? Are we walking in newness of life that is contagious to our friends who don’t yet know Jesus?
But equally important, but often overlooked, is our ministry to our friends and loved ones who already know the Lord. When they’re struggling are we their strongest and most dependable ally? I must confess that I’m often found lacking in that category, especially in my own home. May I confess that I struggle? Not so much with my faith in my risen Lord, but in the application of that faith in a meaningful way, especially in the lives of those I love the most.
So, I’ll ask the question again: “Is your profession of faith in Jesus making a positive difference in the lives of those who live under your roof and/or those in your immediate spheres of influence?” Is your spouse, your kids, grandkids, parents, nieces and nephews, cousins, uncles and aunts and other relatives happy to see you coming or do they tuck tail and run in the opposite direction.
And I understand, some of that has nothing to do with you, it’s just their adamant protest against the Savior you now hold dear or, perhaps, how you model that relationship in and through your life. Some of my relatives are good with me as long as I leave Jesus out of the conversation, but I find that very hard to do at times.
How do you not tell a cancer patient you have a cure? How do you not tell an alcoholic, drug addict, or any other kind of addict that you’ve found deliverance and freedom in Jesus? It’s counter to our new nature, but may I suggest another approach?
I’m challenged by A. W. Tozer’s words: “A Profession of faith that doesn’t make a difference, doesn’t make a difference to God either.” What does that mean to you? At first glance I’m tempted to believe that if I’m not constantly talking about Jesus to EVERYONE, I’m not making a difference. But is that really what he’s saying?
What if we “spoke” about our deep and abiding faith in Jesus with more than words? And I can “hear” the hardy “AMENS” from those who are shy or find it difficult to share their faith. My point is, it’s not either-or, but both-and. We must mix our conversations about Jesus with compassion and genuine affection through our support when our loved ones, both lost and saved, are hurting.
Bob Goff wrote: “It will be the people with the greatest love, not the most information, who will influence us to change.” I also love his quote: “The best advice I’ve been given when I’d failed was a hug.” After my divorce, at my lowest, when words failed, I collapsed into my friend’s arms, and he just held me as I sobbed. I’ve rarely felt that loved.
Our words will never do the job of blessing and helping others until our hearts and lives become invitations for them to be loved. We’ll make a difference to the degree we follow God’s promptings to love others as we love ourselves.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 