Some of us are good at grace, but neglect confronting people with the truth in case we offend them. Others of us are good at truth, but fail to show God’s grace to people. But Jesus was ‘full of grace and truth’, and that’s the balance we must all aim for! A man with little interest in spiritual matters related casually to the Christian who lived next door. They talked over the back fence, borrowed each other’s tools, and stuff like that. Then sadly the nonbeliever’s wife was stricken with cancer and died. Here is part of a letter he wrote afterwards: ‘I was in total despair. I went through the funeral preparations and the service like I was in a trance. After the service, I went to the path along the river and walked all night. But I didn’t walk alone. My neighbour – afraid for me, I guess – stayed with me all night. He didn’t speak; he didn’t even walk beside me. He just followed me. When the sun finally came up over the river, he came over and said, “Let’s go get some breakfast.” I go to church now. My neighbour’s church. A religion that can produce the kind of caring my neighbour showed me is something I want to find out more about. I want to love and be loved like that for the rest of my life.’ Any farmer will tell you that before you sow your seed, you must prepare the ground. ‘Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them’ (Romans 12:9 NLT). When we treat people with grace, they will open their hearts and minds to the truth we want to share with them.
