Suppose your friend had never tried your favorite food. It’s pizza for many of you, so it might seem odd. But, it’s possible. The point is, you’d want them to try it, right?
We often have friends who need help. We say “You don’t know what you’re missing” and get all excited about it, but of course they have to want to try it.
When you trust Jesus to save you from your sin, Jesus writes you in His Book of Life. He comes to live in you through the Holy Spirit. And, He wants to help you just like you would for that friend you want to enjoy that favorite food.
What do you do if they’re doing something dumb, though? It’s a lot worse if they put oil in a car’s radiator or use a mouse as a foot pedal. One will wreck a car; the other sure isn’t using things to their best ability. (It sounds dumb, but it happened! Google “crazy tech support stories” and foot pedal for a funny “Computer World” article from 2009.)
Another great hymn is “No, Not One.” Find the lyrics; it’s rewarding to read great humn lyrics. Part says “There’s not a friend who’s so high and holy…. and yet no friend is so meek and lowly.” Yes, there are times when God needs to be brutally honest with His message to us. Like when Peter got so excited on the Mount of Transfiguration he wanted to build altars for Jesus *and* Moses and Elijah. God spoke verbally to remind him Jesus was His Beloved Son - that Jesus is God in flesh so we never put others on His level. Usually, though He seaks in a much more tender manner. Take John 11, when He used the euphemism of sleep to describe Lazarus. The disciples took Him literally, and He spoke – probably as a parent would to a small child, calmly explaining “Lazarus is dead.” He wanted them to feel the full effect of what He was about to do by raising Lazarus from the dead.
Backsliding believers, of course, get tougher and tougher reminders as God tries to get through to them. Sometimes it’s through the still, small voice of the Spirit, sometimes others or circumstances. But God wants to be able to guide us gently. In spring of last year, an illustration of walking with God showed different ways to walk. You can walk beside a person. You could follow behind a little or a lot) but on the right path. You might zig-zag quite a bit or just stop and the person needs to coax you back onto the right path. Or, you might turn and go the other way – in which the person has to get you back onto the right path.
Imagine seeing each happening as two friends walk down the street. What would you think of each? Now, think about how you are walking with Jesus.
Our own walks with Jesus were the focus of that message. But, what did you think os the friends you imagined walking each of those ways? Consider how your walk with Jesus impacts the way others follow Jesus. It can even impact whether others choose to follow Jesus. After all, we’re trying to tell people it’s a relationship, but if somebody’s walking downt he street 20 feet behind someone else, would you think they were together? People will only believe you are with Jesus if they see you being Christlike.
Just remember, it’s not something we have to do. We get to be examples to others. We get to earn Heavenly rewards and one day reign with Him because He loves us so much. We must show that love to others in how we treat them and how we help them. Humbly, not superior but instead taking on the role of s ervant, like Jesus always did.
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