Everyone has their own belief system - a set of personal conclusions arrived at over time. We also have our own set of priorities too. So, what happens when we encounter someone with a different point of view?
"I don't like cranberries with my turkey."
"Seriously? They taste wonderful together."
A fight ensues and the police are called.
The cops are no help. Instead, they insist that doughnuts are supreme. And there you have it. Personal opinion wins every time.
Look at Ukraine and Russia. Putin says he wants Ukraine. Zelenskyy says no. They've been fighting for years.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to me the Father except through me." - John 14:6
The Pharisees disagreed. They crucified Him.
So, how can we every possibly convince someone that Jesus is the key to eternal life? Answer: we can't. That's a wrestling match between them and the Holy Spirit. We can help but as the old saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them." - John 6:44
When I was in sixth grade we had a neighbor kid who'd come over to play with my sister. She'd ring the doorbell and ask if my sister could come out to play.
"No, not today, Paula."
"Why?"
"She's taking a nap."
"Why?"
"Because she's tired."
"Why?"
(Getting a little annoyed now) Thinking: "Because she got tired from answering all of your repetitive questions!"
You get the idea. So, how do we talk to others about Jesus when they don't want to hear it? The answer is simple but sad. Try ask questions. If they don't want to answer, then we should stop asking them and go home.
Read John 6:44 again and accept it. And then pray for them. It's the Father who draws them to Himself.
The problem comes when we love those who refuse to answer our questions. Maybe it's a spouse, a child, or a friend. We should pray harder and more often! Be like Paula with God. Don't give up praying for them.
“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. ³And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
⁴"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, ⁵yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
⁶And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. - John 18:2-6
Keep praying!!
