"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink." I have heard this saying so many times as a child that if I were given a penny for the number of times I heard it I probably wouldn't have to work another day in my life. I later understood the saying to mean that you can present something to a person, but it doesn't mean they will accept what it is you're presenting.
Does this mean you stop presenting certain things to certain people? Are there people out there we can say aren't worth the time nor the energy to be bothered with? I would say if that were a yes; then I would have been and perhaps in the eyes of some would still be deemed as one of those individuals.
What is our goal? Is it to only deal with those that meet our standards of worthiness? Maybe only those that are black like me, or if you are white; white like you? Or Asian, etc. When did it become a part of our job description as believers to measure the worthiness of individuals? I recall in the scriptures these words...
Pro 28:21
To have respect of persons [is] not good: for for a piece of bread [that] man will transgress.
Yes, we can lead people to the Water of Life, and no we can't make them drink of it but that should never deter us from the call that is placed within our hearts; which is to go into all the earth and make disciples.
I promise as we continue to be the vessels that He uses to lead others to Himself, we will see with our own eyes that our leading won't be in vain.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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3 comments:
Funny, this very morning, our bible study started this with an assembly of about 150 of us (we always meet for 15 min as a group before splitting into groups, where I happen to be a core group leader..talk about the POT Calling the Kettle Black!!) and our Assis. Teaching Director started on Witnessing and the tiny things we can do...and then she thanked ME for the idea from the dais! I'd forgotten I'd mentioned months ago that I thought it might be a nice idea to spend those mornings on how we can help the members reach out to friends with their faith...but SHE took it to new heights.
Subtle ways like praying at a restaurant before meals...sending Christian cards with scripture in them even to secular friends, "Don't just mention you're busy Thursday morning and can't have coffee with a friend, tell her Thurs morning is your BIBLE STUDY day.." etc etc......I thought she did great.
Happily, we're a group of usually 200, Black, White, Asian, Latinas....all loving the morning, all learning......all have the same standards..led by Him.
wonderful post, I.H.S...as usual
Great insight into an axiom I've never applied the way you did.
The Great Commission requires our effort...but God's gift of free will makes the outcome of those efforts uncertain at best.
God bless your weekend and your message this Sunday.
What is noteworthy is that even God Himself will not override their will and force them to drink.
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