Reviving Lives

God's purpose in creating Adam and Eve was to build a community of people who would have fellowship with each other and their Creator! Everything God created, from the majestic mountains to the tiniest flower, has a unique beauty that glorifies his name. God is glorified when we live in harmony and love, respecting and caring for each other.

Adam and Eve loved each other and enjoyed their intimate fellowship with God for a while. God restored this broken relationship through Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. With a revived soul and heart, we now speak directly to our Father, who is in heaven, like his children.

God desires to see healthy relationships. He wants us to build and maintain friendships and bless and touch the lives of many. God has called us on a mission, a mission of great honor. He has chosen us to be his ambassadors and share the Good News of salvation with others to revive lives. It's a privilege to represent the King of Kings. We can't force people to listen to us, nor can we change their minds. Instead, when our talk matches our honorable walk of life, they see, trust, and follow the Lord. It's such a bliss seeing people come to know the Lord and find a joyful and peaceful life! God's utmost desire is to see everyone saved and receive eternal life.

Building long-lasting friendships is an art. It requires knowledge, wisdom, and sometimes sacrifice and time, but it's rewarding. The following are a few suggestions to help us succeed in our mission: 

Listen: Consider what people say and avoid dominating the conversation. Listening is an art that requires patience and practice to master. When you want to respond, try speaking after a 2-second pause. This simple act of respect on your part plays a crucial role in fostering connections. If you pay attention while others talk, they will listen to you when you speak!

Notice the positive things: By careful listening and keen observation, you can observe many good things in people. Then, commend them when you notice or hear something good. This power of observation empowers you to see the best in others and acknowledge it, strengthening your bond. 

Empathize: People don't usually talk about their painful experiences but will share more deeply as the friendship deepens. Be careful not to poke into their lives. Instead, empathize with them; for example, you may say, "So sorry to hear that. It should have been hard on you". Ask them how they feel now. 

Do not leak out secrets: Once your friends see you as trustworthy, they will confide in you more. However, with this trust comes a great responsibility. Keeping people's secrets is a serious matter. It's crucial not to share them with anyone, not even your loved ones, without their explicit permission. This commitment to confidentiality is a testament to your trustworthiness and will strengthen your relationships.

Delightful Conversation: Provide concise and meaningful answers, and don't let a conversation turn into a debate. We are at war with evil, which will use all tricks to lure us into engaging in a different and divisive conversation. For instance, if discussing a personal matter and someone asks about a controversial political issue, it's best to steer the conversation back to the original topic. Avoid answering an unrelated or divisive question and falling into a trap, even if you have a solid and convincing answer. Instead, focus on what you had in mind about sharing your faith. If you don't know the answer to a question, say so. When responding to a question, remember that the entire audience listens to you, not just the person who asked the question. People hear your response in your words, body language, respect for your opponents, and calm and loving attitude. Admitting that you don't know everything invites others to engage.

Don't take Sides: When faced with a debate, it's important to remember that you don't have to take sides. Avoid questions that fuel tension and division, even if you agree with one group. This approach can help maintain a sense of calm and collectedness amid heated discussions. 

Can't win all. While it's true that you can't win everyone over, remember that you have the power to initiate friendships. It's not about expecting everyone to like you but about taking the first step towards building connections with others. That's the reality we can shape!

People and Doctrines: It's unfair to judge people who don't know what they do is wrong. For example, one may not realize that losing a temper or getting drunk is a bad habit and sinful. So, instead, share the biblical truth lovingly. But suppose someone misinterprets the Bible and teaches against the principal doctrine of the Bible, which refers to the core teachings and beliefs of the Christian faith. In that case, you want to rebuke them in public without reservation. This rebuke should be done with love and respect, not with a spirit of condemnation so that everyone becomes aware and stops spreading false teachings. So, for example, if someone teaches that homosexuality is OK, that is against the principal doctrine of the Bible.  

Your testimony can be a powerful tool when helping someone understand what they do is wrong. For instance, if you struggled with a drinking problem in the past, sharing your journey can inspire hope. You might say, "Many years ago, I used to get drunk because I didn't know it was wrong and damaging to my family. But when Jesus came into my life, he opened my mind and gave me strength to avoid getting drunk again." Your story can show others that change is possible with faith.

Admitting and Apologizing: It's natural to want to hide our mistakes and appear perfect. But this is not the path of a godly life. Instead, we should embrace honesty and be unafraid to apologize. Admitting our mistakes and apologizing is not a sign of weakness but strength! When people see our truthfulness, they will be reassured and draw closer to our Lord, knowing that we are all imperfect and need His grace!

Accusations! They have been a constant in our lives, shaping our interactions with siblings, friends, coworkers, spouses, and parents. The habitual defense mechanism of blaming others, especially our accusers, has often strained our relationships!

Jesus, the perfection of grace, did not come to accuse us but to offer us forgiveness and a life of transformation. As we embrace this new life, we can respond to false accusations with grace and respect. This dignified response, free from accusation, not only distinguishes us but also draws others to our serene and nonjudgmental nature.

Words are powerful: The spoken words of God brought the universe into existence! As beings made in the image of God, our words carry a similar power. Whether we speak positively or negatively about ourselves or others, we experience the consequences of our words first. Negative words poison our thoughts, while positive words heal and strengthen our inner being. Positivity is a tribute to our Heavenly Father!

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 (NKJV)

Ridicule! Our new lives and lifestyles represent God's love. While it's easy to be respectful toward people who like us, it may be hard to resist the temptation of making fun of our opponents. But God is honored when we stay calm and keep an optimistic and courteous attitude toward everyone. Therefore, we pray when we face criticism and rejection or when people accuse us falsely. These are critical moments, and the audience will keep watching our responses. Please remember that our dignity and tone of voice speak much louder than words!

The news media has a powerful influence. They often make fun of people they disagree with. Unfortunately, this can seep into our hearts and influence our attitudes. We must be cautious and aware of this influence and remember the Scripture's instruction to speak respectfully of all people:

“Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in Yahweh’s law. On his law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that produces its fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalms 1:1-3

Pray! It’s an excellent practice to pray not just once but for a week or a month for those who have asked for our prayers.  It's a good habit to add their names to our prayer list so we don't forget to pray regularly.  And then, it's crucial to follow up with them by phone or face-to-face to see how they're doing. It is how we show we care, and it's a reminder of our responsibility to each other!

Please click on “My Story” to continue.

Questions: 

1. God is glorified when we live in harmony and respect everyone.
2. When we do wrong, we shouldn’t admit every mistake since people may take advantage of us.