You don’t have to convince them
For even His brothers did not believe in Him. John 7:5
Have you ever had someone not believe what you say? Maybe a family member or friend? A time when you had something important to say, but you just couldn’t get that person to understand or even listen. There are many reasons why it can happen like, it’s just too good to be true or it is beyond realistic. This can happen when you are trying to tell others about the love of God. Some people think they have been too bad for God to love them or that God is too far away and not interested in them. No matter how hard you try or what you say, they just don’t want to hear it.
This often happened to Jesus. Even though He was sinless, there were still people who didn’t believe His message and even though He did great signs and miracles, even His family doubted Him for a long time. In today’s reading, Jesus’ family tried to get Him to go to Judea for the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus knew that the Jewish people there wanted to kill Him, so He knew it was not the right timing for Him to go. His brothers tried to convince Him, but Jesus simply said: “My time has not yet come.” The passage goes on to say that His brothers did not believe in Him. Jesus knew what was in their hearts, but He didn’t try to convince them of Who He was. He knew that the work of their heart was God’s work, and it was not His job to make people to believe. He only did the will of His Father Who sent Him.
We can learn from Jesus in this area. It seems like when someone questions what we believe or something we have said about the good news of Jesus, we feel the need to convince others that we are right or that we know what we are talking about. However, that is not our job, that is the work of the Holy Spirit drawing others to God’s love. Our job is to share the message in love, answers legitimate questions and let it grow on the inside of a person. We can read later on that Jesus’ brothers did finally believe and followed Him, even to the death. Therefore, we can trust that God will bring our loved ones in at just the right time.
Today I want to encourage you to share the message of the gospel with others, but in a loving and caring way. If some do not believe or even ridicule, don’t argue or get angry, just let the Holy Spirit do the work in their heart. You have planted a seed of God’s goodness and love in their heart, and the Holy Spirit will come along after and give a continuing watering. Keep them in prayer and show up for them in love when they need a hand, but if they don’t believe, it is not for you to make them. God will bring someone else along to help them understand and His timing will be perfect.
Today’s scripture reading: John 7:1-9
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.
2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.
3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”
5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”
9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.
The Daily Dose 