Persuasion or Force?

“And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”’ Acts 21:14 NASB

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Teddy Roosevelt

Since the beginning of time, intimidation, bullying, threats and war have existed, from which we don’t seem to learn. Jesus counseled, “By their fruit, you will know them.” I use that phrase often to make decisions from dating to whom to vote for. Most of the news is filled with threats of war, fires, showboating politicians and higher taxes hurting poor and working-class families. When the protesters in France threw soup on a Van Gogh painting, Mr. Black Sheep and I said to each other, “How is this persuading us to their cause?”

Do we do the same with others in our life? When Jesus started the Sermon on the Mount, he fed them first. He knew a full tummy is more receptive to the truth than an empty tummy. He then revealed to the crowd their prized and heavenly attributes, before giving any other messages. Jesus counseled us to feed our enemy, pray for them and leave the results with the Father. No force. Even useful when instructing and disciplining our children. Do our children know how much we care? Undisciplined parents can harm more than we can imagine.

Motives. What’s the real agenda here? Some are obvious: Attention, money or favors. It reminds me of Jesus’ story of the worker who was embezzling from his boss and about to be fired. But the worker went out to his clients and wrote off some of their debt so he’d have them in debt to him when the boss fired him. Jesus called him shrewd.  The children of this world are shrewder than the children of light. True then. True now. Check the fruit.

Godly persuasion takes much more work, honesty and research. How does this benefit them? Every good salesperson or therapist knows how to find the client’s problem and assist in coming up with solutions to the client’s problem. And it takes work. It takes active listening. It takes empathizing. It takes putting my own ego aside. It takes tons of patience as people usually aren’t persuaded the first time. Think about the changes you have made in your own lives: Was it one and done? Probably not. Were the changes forced? An arrest or ultimatum may start the process but it will not last without care. Not even something so wonderful as becoming a Christian. Two steps forward…

Musings

“What can I do for you?” “Would you like to get well?” “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Persuasion. No demands, attention-seeking, emotional outbursts, ultimatums, no rule-making but serving with love.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Persuasion is difficult, especially when our focus is on ourselves and not on You. But loving persuasion becomes life-changing with joy one person at a time. Help us to ask others, “What do you want me to do for you?” when faced with the problems of today. Help us to pause, self-reflect, pray, research, and most importantly, follow through.

Thank you for persuading us to be in your family through your Son.

Amen.