Big Rocks for Strong Christ-Followers
Today’s Big Rock: Jesus Wants Witnesses – Part IV

Scripture Foundation: Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The last phrase in the scripture we have been studying is:

But do this in a gentle and respectful way. (1 Peter 3:15b-16a).

This word from God is telling us “how to” give the reason for our hope in Christ, when an unbeliever asks. Too often Christ-followers focus on “what” to say rather than “how” to say it. When that happens, the unbeliever may not truly hear our reasons because of the way we told them!

I love the fact that God already knew our issues before we even existed. He understood that many of His followers would not think about their delivery of the Good News.

God inspired Peter to instruct Christ-followers to consider the way they should talk to unbelievers. God’s wants us to approach all our conversations with an unbeliever gently and as respectful as we know how to be!

There are some personalities that can rub people the wrong way even if they have a great message. If you have a history of confrontation with people you engage with, I hope you ask God to help you to be gentler and more respectful in your conversations.

Since God knows all people way better than we will ever know, we can trust God’s opinion on how to deliver the message of hope to people who have little or no faith.

I have often said, kindness feels good even to an atheist! Who do you know that does not like someone to treat them kindly?

It would be a rare situation that chatting with someone about the goodness of God in a gentle and respectful way would cause damage to that relationship.

We can never be effective in sharing God’s hope by using insulting phrases to a person who is resistant to the faith.

I wish all of us could remember that unbelievers live in a world of hate and insults. They have become very good at handling anyone that decides to approach them with that attitude.

However, they normally are surprised by anyone that stays in an attitude of love toward them and understanding of their point of view. With nothing to fight about, they might listen to what we have to say!

(Continued.)

Father, when you draw a person toward yourself, help me to treat them kindly and respectfully. Amen.