Remember These 3 Things

You have opened up your heart and home. You have shown hospitality and genuine friendship to a Muslim man or woman who has become a friend. The two of you have talked about family, common interests, and about similarities and differences in your faith. Because you both now care about each other, it is only natural that one or both of you might want to convince or convert the other one to your belief.

But please remember these three things:

1)      It is not your job to convert.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’  Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.” John 6:44-45 (NIV)

2)      It is not your job to convict.

^“7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you. ⁸ When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: ⁹ About sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me;” John 16:7-10 (HCSB).

3)      It is your job to love and to share with gentleness and respect.

¹⁵ “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”—1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” –John 13:34 (NIV)

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”— John 13:35 (NIV)

“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”—1 Peter 4:9 (NIV)

Agree to disagree. Agree to share matters of the heart with one another in a non-confrontational way. Continue to learn from each other and offer friendship and hospitality and love.

–Lady of Prayer