Repeated witnessing vs. not casting your pearls before swine
Sept 14, 2017 0:12:10 GMT -6
whatif, Rick, and 1 more like this
Post by AlwaysPraying on Sept 14, 2017 0:12:10 GMT -6
Knowing how late the "hour" is before Christ's return, I find myself trying to again have conversations with friends or family I know who aren't saved (from previous conversations with them about the gospel). But I think the prince of the power of the air is working overtime to harden people's hearts or blind them, lest the light of the gospel shine on them.
So I find myself remembering the scripture not to cast our pearls before swine.
Matthew 7:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Trying to explain the good news (of Christ having suffered the wrath of God's punishment for us) to people who don't even see themselves as guilty of anything before God sometimes feels futile. Because Christians freely share the gospel, and some people (especially in English-speaking countries) have heard it multiple times, it seems like empty talk or foolishness to them.
1 Corinthians 1:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Sometimes it even feels like trying to re-share the gospel with people (who were uninterested or resistant to previous attempts), is just condemning them to a worse judgment (for having again rejected the gospel/Christ).
Someone speculated in another thread whether believers would be witnesses at the great white throne judgment of unbelievers. And it fills me with sadness to think (for those who will never turn to Christ), all the times I've tried yet once more to talk to some people about the things of God (and for that person to again reject them), is just adding further indictments against them.
Matthew 10:12-15 King James Version (KJV)
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Then I remember again the verses in 2 Corinthians 5:
Because I do believe hell is real, I don't want people I know to go there. So I do find myself trying multiple times to persuade some.
I want to be a good ambassador for Christ. And knowing/discerning, at the beginning of an attempt, when to back off and not go further is something I'm still getting the hang of.
So I find myself remembering the scripture not to cast our pearls before swine.
Matthew 7:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Trying to explain the good news (of Christ having suffered the wrath of God's punishment for us) to people who don't even see themselves as guilty of anything before God sometimes feels futile. Because Christians freely share the gospel, and some people (especially in English-speaking countries) have heard it multiple times, it seems like empty talk or foolishness to them.
1 Corinthians 1:18 King James Version (KJV)
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Sometimes it even feels like trying to re-share the gospel with people (who were uninterested or resistant to previous attempts), is just condemning them to a worse judgment (for having again rejected the gospel/Christ).
Someone speculated in another thread whether believers would be witnesses at the great white throne judgment of unbelievers. And it fills me with sadness to think (for those who will never turn to Christ), all the times I've tried yet once more to talk to some people about the things of God (and for that person to again reject them), is just adding further indictments against them.
Matthew 10:12-15 King James Version (KJV)
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Then I remember again the verses in 2 Corinthians 5:
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Because I do believe hell is real, I don't want people I know to go there. So I do find myself trying multiple times to persuade some.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
I want to be a good ambassador for Christ. And knowing/discerning, at the beginning of an attempt, when to back off and not go further is something I'm still getting the hang of.
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