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What are you known for? If people were to describe you based on personal experience or your social media posts, would they describe you in terms of what you are for or what you are against? Does it matter? It does. As Christians, we want to help draw people to Jesus, right? Ask yourself this. Are you drawn to negative people? Are you drawn to people who criticize and condemn you? How open are you to the thoughts and opinions of people who treat you that way? Not much, right?

How did Jesus approach people? Admittedly, He was tough on the Pharisees, the religious leaders of His day, in part because they were a hindrance to people trying to enter the Kingdom of God. (Matt. 23:13). But to the “average” person, Jesus usually first pointed them to what was right, good, and true. He pointed them to what would lead to the eternal and abundant life He desires to give to all who will surrender to Him in faith. For example, when the rich, young man in Matthew 19 asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus didn’t immediately say that he must repent of his materialism. He pointed him to God and a life of obedience. Matt. 19:17 says, “And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” It is important that Jesus did confront the man with his problem of materialism, but He didn’t lead with that!

Here are two more examples. First, the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Jesus knew of her sin. But He initiated the conversation such that He could first introduce her to the source of eternal life. John 4:13-14 says, “Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” It was only later in the conversation that He caused her to face the things in her life for which she needed forgiveness. The woman caught in adultery, John 8, is the second example. Jesus protected and defended her from her accusers. Then we read in vs. 10 and 11: Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” Here too, Jesus didn’t ignore her sin. But He addressed it after showing her His mercy and grace.

What’s your approach to people? Do you lead with what you’re for (the truth, love, mercy and grace of God) or with what you’re against (sin)? Jesus’s example is more beneficial and successful!

David Edmonston is the pastor of Trinity Church in Prospect. He can be reached at davidetrinitychurch@gmail.com.