it's Nita.

Key word… drawn not dragged.

I say this from a point of concern in checking my own heart and for the Body of Christ as a whole. Please know that I am totally preaching to myself first in reflecting on my own experiences in discipleship and evangelism.

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Friends, I fully comprehend zeal for the Lord, passion for the Gospel and a desire to see people set free and thriving in the love of the Lord… BUT the matter of “getting” people there is not to be accomplished through brut force, guilting, shaming, condemnation, threats, manipulation, nagging, control or even well-meaning Bible-thumping. In fact, it is really not about us at all. It is about the Lord, his goodness and our stewardship of The Great Commission.

So what is our part?

We are God’s representatives and agents on the earth. We are called to be an example of Christ’s character to the people around us. We are the light of the world and salt of the Earth. The best way we can do that is by receiving and giving the greatest attribute of Christ’s character: love.

5 ACTIONABLE WAYS TO LOVE LIKE JESUS

Jesus’ example and teachings show us at least five ways we can love more like Him. While it’s not an exhaustive list by any means, these practices can provide us with an actionable starting point to apply to our imperfect, human lives.

To love like Jesus, we must:

• Be mindful. We need to connect more deeply with our lives and the people in them, rather than living a detached, disconnected existence.
• Be approachable. It’s important for people to feel safe approaching us; in other words, we must become less exclusive in our interactions with others and more welcoming to those who seek us out.
• Be full of grace. We must be willing to relate to others in a less judgmental way.
• Be bold. We have to shed our fears, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV).
• Be self-giving. We need to become less self-absorbed and more invested in those around us.

Source for “5 Actionable Ways to Love like Jesus”: https://www.symbis.com/blog/how-to-love-like-jesus/

This my friends are a few simple ways to begin loving like Jesus. By this we draw others to God because we are demonstrating his love.

P.S. Remember we love because he first loved us. If you find yourself unwilling or unable to give love is the ways described above, I’d encourage you to take some alone time to reflect with the Lord. (I have been in this place). Let the Holy Spirit search your heart and abide with the Lord there. Repent for any emotions or behaviors he may highlight to you. He will always reveal Truth and give you renewed strength to love others well.

His Best, Always!

-Nita