The older I get and the more I watch people and see how different each person is the more I see how Jesus approached people and talked to them when He was here on this Earth.
When presenting the truth of Jesus to people not everyone accepts it with an open heart, mainly because the church has left a bad taste in their mouth or someone else has already tried to shove something down their throat that they couldn’t swallow.
I have learned that before we can try and speak truth to someone we must first learn their heart and find out where their pain is coming from and what we need to do to adjust how we minister to them.
Because we are not Jesus and do not know the hearts of everyone and what they are going through it will take some time and investigation on our part and some patience. Before we can share what we know is Truth with a person who is broken, they must first see and feel the heart of the one that the Truth is coming from. As they see the heart of Christ in us, then their hearts will be more open to accept and listen to what we have to tell them.
Some people are already open and will listen to anything because they are so hungry for Truth, but there are others who are cold, brittle and bitter and will take some work and prayer to get to. We cannot push these people, because they are already looking for excuses not to listen.
The woman at the well is a perfect example of this one – on – one encounter which Jesus showed us in John 4:8-42 show how Jesus a Jew took time to talk and sit with a Samaritan Woman (Which was forbidden at that time). Jesus took a lot of time to associate with people which other people didn’t want anything to do with, because of this love and sincere heart that He showed them they were willing to accept what he had to say.
Another example is Luke 19:1-10 when Jesus stayed with Zacchaeus and ate with him. All of the people outside shouted and complained that Jesus was sitting with a sinner. But to Zacchaeus this was a life changing moment for him because Jesus took the time to talk with a man who everyone else hated and despised.
Take time to get to know the people around you, use the gift of the Spirit and know their hearts so you can touch them spiritually in a way they will never forget. Don’t just talk to the popular well liked people, show love and kindness to the ones everyone else shuns. In doing this you will be made fun of, but you will also be showing the true heart of Christ and more people will be willing to listen to what you have to say.
Love and actions are more powerful then words. Sometimes we have to act before we can speak.
There is never just one way to show the Truth to people, sometimes we have to show them our actions before we can speak the words. Because of sin and the doubt and hardness it causes getting someone to accept Christ can be a tough task but with guidance and wisdom of Christ we will know what to do for each individual we encounter.
Jesus did this on the Cross, it made everything he preached and said to the people more real and helped them realize that He was not just words but meant what he was was preaching.
