Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Practice these things; to be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save yourself and your hearers.

1 Timothy 4:11-16 HCSB

Sometimes we see food that looks really appealing and we try it but it tastes horrible. Why do we instinctively offer it to someone else? You know you’ve done that. You take a big bite and you are so disappointed, you want someone else to try it. I think we do this because we are shocked that it tastes so bad or maybe we figure they won’t believe us, but either way it’s crazy, right? When you make that horrible face and say, “Yuck, this is awful, wanna try it?” Nine out of ten times the answer is going to be no.

Likewise when we go around beating people over the head with our bibles and telling them they must turn to God, that doesn’t always work either.  When we walk around like someone licked all the red off of our candy and try to encourage people to come to church with us, don’t be surprised if they don’t show up.

I ended the week by telling you that I had been to a women’s conference at Colyell Baptist Church. It was a free conference with a delicious dinner served and I just want to say a big thank you to those who helped put it on, it was wonderful. I learned a lot in this conference, but two things really stuck out and convicted me. They had a wise woman panel. When you registered for the conference they asked if you were able to ask a wise, godly woman anything what would it be? They selected some of these questions and presented them to a panel made up of four women ranging in age from 22-83. One question that I thought was a really good question was how do you get your family members to go to church?  The 22 year old nursing student answered this question and did a fantastic job. She said that she just tried to be a good example for her loved ones and mentioned a particular family member that had not been going to church. She said that she just consistently tried to set a good example and show how much she enjoyed church and finally this family member agreed to come to a church function and then another and now this family member is attending and actively serving in the church. She ended with saying that she realized that she had to be the church outside of the church.

The thing is we have tasted the Lord and we know that He is good (Psalm  34:8). We want others to taste Him too. But are you walking around in pride telling someone that they should try it? Are you walking around in fear telling someone that they should try it? Are you filled with anxiety telling someone that they should try it? For years I have tried to get some of my family to go to church or get involved in church. Short of beating them over the head with my bible and dragging them in there, I have done what I could and gotten no results.

This answer helped to show me that if others see Christ in me they will want what I have. If others see me living a life of peace and joy, they will want some of that.

Now, I don’t know where you are today. Perhaps you are that relative that someone has been beating over the head with their bible trying to get you into church. If so, taste the Lord and see that He is good, know that nothing is better than being in a close relationship with Him.

If you are that family member that has been trying to get your family into church, know that sometimes you may only be able to plant the seed. Pray for someone else to come along and water it and make it grow. Pray for your family members. Pray that they will find the peace and joy that you have in Christ.

If you are a grumpy prideful Christian, which by the way is an oxymoron, just saying, maybe you should ask God to help do a work in you before you start trying to work on others.

My prayer for all of us today is that we will know the peace and joy that can only be found in a close, loving relationship with our Lord and Savior. If you have found that, then live a life that shows it as our scripture passage for today instructs us to do. In doing so you will not only save yourself, but others as well.

Have a great day!