NTU CSA Charismatic Prayer Group

Luke 7:31-35

31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.” (ESV)

At some time in your life, you may have experienced communication problems with someone close to you—perhaps a spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend, or a relative. You tried to talk to them, and they wouldn’t respond. You said nice things, but they only became more withdrawn. You told them you were upset, but it didn’t make any difference. At that point, you may have felt like giving up. You wondered, “Why can’t I get through?”

You may think that Jesus felt that way about those who weren’t accepting him. For whatever reason, they had their minds made up about him. He spoke of God’s mercy, and also warned of his judgment—yet they still found excuses not to follow him. They called John the Baptist possessed and labeled Jesus a hypocrite (Luke 7:33-34). But Jesus didn’t give up on them.

In fact, he went to the cross, died, and rose again in order to convince them of his love! You may also know someone who is resisting God’s love. Any mention of the gospel seems to irritate them. Maybe something in their past has caused them to become cynical about faith. Perhaps you’ve already concluded that they will never come around. But if Jesus gave his last breath for them, then we should have hope for them too! No one is beyond the reach of his mercy.

How can we preach the gospel to those who are closed to it? If we just quote a few verses from Scripture or a line from our catechism, we probably won’t get very far. But if we risk a little and share our lives, our witness will be far more effective. By spending time with someone, listening to them, and simply being their friend, we are sharing Christ with them—because he is in us! We can be God’s word to the broken and the hard-hearted. As in everything else, love is the ultimate answer.

Lord, your love for me is beyond measure. Give me that same love for my brothers and sisters who are far from you. Show me how I can reach them with your message of salvation.