Fulfilling Your End of the Bargain...

I was watching a video the other day where a man was interviewing college-aged students. His show was called “change my view”. This particular episode was to try to convince him that there are more than two genders. He was very cordial, allowing the person seated next to him to express their views and try to convince him to change his mind. Anyway, after a long and one-sided conversation, he stood up, thanked the person, and stuck out his hand in a neighborly manner. The person refused to shake his hand. The only thing he did was raise questions about their stance on the issue. This is exactly what happened here. You have those that heard Jesus’ words and believed. Then you have those that heard Jesus’ words and refused to believe. They rejected God’s plan for them, for they didn’t want to believe to begin with. That’s the same reaction we get today. Some believe and some don’t. The saddest part is that those who don’t believe reject God not for lack of evidence. They refuse to believe, because they flat out don’t want to, regardless of the evidence. The good news for us is that we don’t know who those rejectors are, so we go into every situation with the intent of leading them into truth. We present the Gospel, and God does the rest. I’m so glad my results aren’t based on the outcome. My participation only involves presenting the Gospel, period. That’s such a relief to know. No pressure Gospel presentation. I do my best, God does the rest. My significance is not dependent on the results. So the next time you are in a conversation that is going no where; the other person in the conversation is clearly showing signs of this Prideful rejection, smile, quote John 3:16, extend your hand in non-threatening manner, thank them for meeting with you, and walk away. You fulfilled your end of the bargain, and your significance is secure.

28 I tell you, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of God is greater than he is!”29 When they heard this, all the people–even the tax collectors–agreed that God’s way was right, for they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism. Luke 7:28-30