ROWvotions by Ben Mathes

Now this is a first for me. I call this, “how not to lead somebody to Jesus.” We were conducting a medical clinic a few months ago along the very remote Manamo River while in Venezuela. We were among Warao Indians when a very distraught mother approached because her “sickness” was that she fainted. This mother had no idea why she fainted and she was very worried about it and wanted the doctors to check her out.

The doctors first gathered some history on the woman and discovered why she passed out. It seems the mother was berating her son about giving his life to Christ. She was yelling and screaming at this child so hard about accepting the love of Jesus that she fainted. I am not so sure that her method of witnessing is a good way to share the love of Christ. Perhaps if this mother was a bit gentler in her approach with her son and if she had a little more of a loving spirit the outcome would have been better.

The next time you set out to lead someone to Christ, remember the very specific instructions we have been given regarding the principle of reaping and sowing, found in Luke 6:37-38:

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

If we treat others with criticism then we cannot expect to receive kindness in return. We also cannot expect forgiveness, mercy and blessings from Jesus if we fail to extend the same courtesies to others. Dear Christian, I encourage you to remember that it is our responsibility to display the love of Christ in our words and actions while it is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict others of their need for salvation.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS