"It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge, and my job to love."
Billy Graham
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I'm in the middle of something; a kind thought you might say. I'm thinking of those religious meetings from the past where the discourse often focused on Armageddon, the imminent "last days," the last seconds of the last seconds, and the terrors of hellfire. All aimed at jolting the congregation into wakefulness. Yet, one must ask: why evangelize through fear? This was never the way of Jesus. He reserved his stern warnings for the Pharisees and religious leaders, those who wielded considerable influence and bore great responsibility.
Isaiah 41 speaks of the future messiah, painting a picture of gentleness: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out." This imagery is a crucial reminder for all who teach. Many who enter places of worship are like these bruised reeds—seeking solace, encouragement, and a gentle hand to guide and uplift them.
A wise teacher, whose lectures I cherished in my youth, once shared with me, “If you focus on building up and encouraging the congregation, everything else will fall into place.” His words ring ever true.
"A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out" Isaiah 42:3.