Why Tact and Persuasion Win

Daily Devotional – Thursday, June 20, 2024
Be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)

A budding campus preacher used to confront and condemn two of his alcohol- and bhang-loving colleagues. One night, the duo gave the evangelist a serious beating. He locked himself inside his hostel room and cried the whole night. “Punish them, Lord!” He repeated.

With Meekness and Fear

This story reminds me of two preachers in the Bible. When Prophet Nathan approached King David after the latter’s grievous sins, he used a parable to trap David into confessing his sins and repenting. In contrast, when John the Baptist confronted King Herod because of adultery, the former’s head ended up on a silver platter!

Both Nathan and John condemned sin. One used tact; the other one was confrontational. The results were different. Tact and persuasion are effective tools in human character transformation. Criticism and condemnation, conversely, create resistance and harden people’s hearts against the truth.

Why Tact and Persuasion Win

Our efforts to preach the truth to those in sin would bear more fruit if we heeded the Apostle Peter’s counsel: “Be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15). Notice the phrase, “with meekness and fear.”

Jesus always spoke the truth with love. He is our model. Even when we believe the other person is such a vile sinner, God still requires us to share the truth with humility and reverence. Human beings rarely change because of criticism. That is why tact and persuasion win more souls for Jesus.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, show me how to apply tact and persuasion when dealing with weaknesses in other people.