Thursday, February 4, 2016
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I really enjoy picking out gifts for the people I love; thinking what they like and what they need. Well, and then I enjoy giving the gift. I don't enjoy wrapping the gift. In fact, they wouldn't enjoy the gift I wrapped if I wrapped it. In fact, it's tempting just to hand them the present, but it just isn't really special to get a gift in a K-Mart bag, you know. It's nicer to have it wrapped in wrapping paper and bows, right?
There's something about my motor coordination. I guess the lines must be down between my brain and my hands. They can make it to my mouth, but somehow that's as far as it gets, so I usually prevail upon my wife, or if it's for her, my sister-in-law. See, wrapping is extra trouble, but a nice gift should come in a nice package.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Gift Wrapped Good News."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 1 Peter 3:15, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." Now, here's what God's saying, "You have a message of hope to give to people, and I want you to do that." But it isn't just the message that matters. It's the spirit, the tone in which you deliver the message.
Don't just give them the gift. It needs to be gift wrapped. And what do you wrap it with? Well, according to Peter here, "with gentleness and respect." See, often it is the package that sells the product, and we say we've got the best product in the world. We've got hope, and love, and life eternal in Jesus Christ, but how about the package you present it in? This isn't a debate. This is not an argument for you to win. This is not a notch on your belt.
I saw a debate some years ago between one of the leading atheists in the world and an outstanding Christian leader. The atheist was mean and illogical and I thought, man, if the Christian would be just like a Christian he'll win, but he wasn't. He fell into her trap, her tone. I thought they both lost.
We do that sometimes in our personal witness or our preaching. We bomb people with the Gospel. We condemn people with the Gospel. Sometimes there's a meanness, an edge in our package. There is a tendency to see witness as winning an argument. It's not. It's winning a heart. You can win the argument and lose the heart. You can win the point and lose the person. Maybe it's happened.
Paul prayed for boldness in Colossians 4:6 and then he said, "Let your speech always be seasoned with grace." Boldness, yes, but boldness with grace. Peter said "gentleness and respect." People should not feel attacked by the Gospel. Your approach should make them feel more important, not less important.
When you share Christ with someone it should make them feel big and valued by God, by you, not small. They should feel cared for by you sharing, not belittled by it. They should feel loved, not judged. Listen to their views when you talk to them. Affirm where you can agree with them, affirm where they're right, and assure them that your motive is love and not winning. I like that old saying, "I'm a beggar, you're a beggar. I'm just a beggar who happened to find bread, telling you where I found it."
You have the Good News about the Savior. Don't just thrust it in their face and say, "Here, take it or leave it." No, wrap the gift in love, in grace, in gentleness and respect. In a relationship that gives them the respect that God says they have; that says, "I think you're important."
If lost people are not attracted to the package, they may never take the gift of Eternal Life.