In the world we come across nonbelievers regularly. What is our duty to them and how are we, as Christians, supposed to interact with them? Where are our boundaries with them? These are things that we have to be aware of considering that we interact with nonbelievers daily.
Our first job as a follower of Christ is to love others. Love those who believe in Jesus or not. Jesus told us that we are to be known for our love for one another. Our love should be so obvious that people recognize us as Christians simply for that feature. And our love should be unconditional. That means looking at those living in the world without judgement.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)
Through the love we show others, we develop relationships. We are called to be in relationship with unbelievers without sacrificing our values. We always should be making our faith known, as it is a huge part of our life, but not forcing it on others. When we push our faith on people, it turns them away. Jesus was never pushy and never forced anyone into anything. He created us to have free will and to be able to make our own decisions to follow Him or not.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (ESV)
When we are in relationship with others, love them, and make our faith known to them, it sets the stage for Jesus to come into their lives. When they see the work of Jesus in our lives and they know the love we have for them, that is when people allow us to speak into their lives. That is when they care about what we have to say and that's when they get born again.
When we have gotten to that place, the nonbeliever has to make a choice to follow Jesus or not. If they choose Jesus, it is our job to disciple them. If they do not, we ask the Lord what He wants to do with that relationship. Sometimes it involves stepping back for a time from that person's life, sometimes it means cutting them off completely, and sometimes it means continuing pressing in. The way we know if a relationship is unhealthy for us is if it is turning our focus off of Jesus. If they are taking you away from Jesus instead of the opposite, the relationship is toxic to you and some action needs to be taken.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (ESV)
Remember that our main goal in life is to bring people into relationship with Jesus. He wants the whole world to follow Him! That starts with the people around you today. Draw strength from your fellow believers and reel those unbelievers into your community. Start loving on the people around you and watch Jesus use you in their lives.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (NLT)
Our first job as a follower of Christ is to love others. Love those who believe in Jesus or not. Jesus told us that we are to be known for our love for one another. Our love should be so obvious that people recognize us as Christians simply for that feature. And our love should be unconditional. That means looking at those living in the world without judgement.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (ESV)
Through the love we show others, we develop relationships. We are called to be in relationship with unbelievers without sacrificing our values. We always should be making our faith known, as it is a huge part of our life, but not forcing it on others. When we push our faith on people, it turns them away. Jesus was never pushy and never forced anyone into anything. He created us to have free will and to be able to make our own decisions to follow Him or not.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (ESV)
When we are in relationship with others, love them, and make our faith known to them, it sets the stage for Jesus to come into their lives. When they see the work of Jesus in our lives and they know the love we have for them, that is when people allow us to speak into their lives. That is when they care about what we have to say and that's when they get born again.
When we have gotten to that place, the nonbeliever has to make a choice to follow Jesus or not. If they choose Jesus, it is our job to disciple them. If they do not, we ask the Lord what He wants to do with that relationship. Sometimes it involves stepping back for a time from that person's life, sometimes it means cutting them off completely, and sometimes it means continuing pressing in. The way we know if a relationship is unhealthy for us is if it is turning our focus off of Jesus. If they are taking you away from Jesus instead of the opposite, the relationship is toxic to you and some action needs to be taken.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (ESV)
Remember that our main goal in life is to bring people into relationship with Jesus. He wants the whole world to follow Him! That starts with the people around you today. Draw strength from your fellow believers and reel those unbelievers into your community. Start loving on the people around you and watch Jesus use you in their lives.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (NLT)
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