V
Vic_Taltrees_UK
Guest
This is a light-hearted serious thread.
I’ve sometimes heard it said, “Don’t compare how you feel with how somebody else looks”.
If we are evangelising, we remember how we sensed our own process of finding something attracting our assent, but when we behold others we only see how they talk, with their words, about what they hear.
With few exceptions we know nothing about what course of future life awaits others.
We cannot micro-manage the Holy Spirit. Whatever words and actions we can leave with people, will have to suffice for Him to utilise (probably along with other things) and in a time frame we can’t control.
Therefore ought we to be open to inspiration about what in God’s eyes may be an even more urgent topic between that other person and God, than sex, or their views on science, or church bossiness?
God knows their belief will have to stick, in hard times ahead. It may become interesting to know how to know, so that they can remain assured, whatever comes. Not in the sense of winning a debate with them (whilst of course offering some information if we have some). Just in showing them what a confident person looks like. Describing how you experience that confidence. How do we know where they are coming from and even the unique personal way they use words?
Some people think they themselves believe because they were nagged into it by a cross Irish(wo)man (or whatever nationality).
Even if so, it might please God to inspire a stranger to look for a different reason!
For my grandparents it was the puzzling poise of their neighbour lady who lost her son and husband in the Great War. (My grandparents were already somewhat theists and had probably changed denominations once already - bold explorers!) (OK, I’ll concede she was probably Irish! )
I’ve sometimes heard it said, “Don’t compare how you feel with how somebody else looks”.
If we are evangelising, we remember how we sensed our own process of finding something attracting our assent, but when we behold others we only see how they talk, with their words, about what they hear.
With few exceptions we know nothing about what course of future life awaits others.
We cannot micro-manage the Holy Spirit. Whatever words and actions we can leave with people, will have to suffice for Him to utilise (probably along with other things) and in a time frame we can’t control.
Therefore ought we to be open to inspiration about what in God’s eyes may be an even more urgent topic between that other person and God, than sex, or their views on science, or church bossiness?
God knows their belief will have to stick, in hard times ahead. It may become interesting to know how to know, so that they can remain assured, whatever comes. Not in the sense of winning a debate with them (whilst of course offering some information if we have some). Just in showing them what a confident person looks like. Describing how you experience that confidence. How do we know where they are coming from and even the unique personal way they use words?
Some people think they themselves believe because they were nagged into it by a cross Irish(wo)man (or whatever nationality).
Even if so, it might please God to inspire a stranger to look for a different reason!For my grandparents it was the puzzling poise of their neighbour lady who lost her son and husband in the Great War. (My grandparents were already somewhat theists and had probably changed denominations once already - bold explorers!) (OK, I’ll concede she was probably Irish!
)