Matthew 21:24 (KJV)
And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
I was thinking this morning of
Matthew 10:16 (KJV)
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Do not allow others to control your conversation, especially when witnessing for Christ. It's a difficult lesson to learn, one that goes against our grain on a few levels.
First, on the level of compassion:
We want to reach out. We want to care. We want to love people and for them to know we love them. It seems uncaring to refuse to let them control our conversations, though they do not think it uncaring to control us.
Second, on the level of pride:
We want to win. If that means a fight, if that means debate, whatever it takes, we want to have the last word.
Here's the lesson: only engage with those who will engage in conversation and not monologue. If their intent is to drive the conversation so that they ask questions they have already answered and only want to bait and argue, don’t answer. Ask your own questions, determine their intent. Converse if there is a conversation, walk away if it's anything else.
#ConversationsOfWisdom #WiseAsSerpents #ChristlikeDialogues #ControllingConversations #ShareTheGospelWisely
Engaging Wisely: Balancing Compassion and Conviction
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