Monday: Unforced but With Power
Daily Lesson for Monday 15th of June 2026
Have you ever wondered how Jesus maintained the motivation to labor, heal, comfort, preach, and teach so many people day after day? We’re told that “when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36, NKJV). It was Jesus’ love and compassion toward humanity that drove His labor. In a similar way, God’s love in us should compel us to feel the burden of leading souls to Him and to His truth (2 Corinthians 5:14).
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Have you ever looked at the faces of strangers in a crowd and thought ahead to eternity, to wonder if they know Jesus? Have you ever felt what can only be the love of God in you toward a stranger in need? God’s love in us compels us to feel the burden of leading souls to Him. Jeremiah expressed this when he said, “ ‘His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not’ ” (Jeremiah 20:9, NKJV).
However, when we share God with others, we should never try to force someone to accept God or His Bible truth. Coercion goes against the very heart of God’s character. God didn’t force Adam and Eve to stay away from the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). He didn’t force people into the ark to be saved from the Flood (Genesis 7:1). He didn’t force the Israelites to remain in their covenant with Him (Deuteronomy 4:29-31). Instead, He met their needs (Matthew 4:23-25) and then invited them to follow Him. Jesus never forced anyone to follow Him or His truth, but He never gives up on us (Matthew 23:37).
As we witness, our approach should always mirror Jesus’ approach. Ellen G. White says, “It is no part of Christ’s mission to compel men to receive Him. It is Satan, and men actuated by his spirit, that seek to compel the conscience. . . . There can be no more conclusive evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 487.
We must allow ourselves to be a conduit for God’s service. We live in a world that hates the truth, but that reality shouldn’t prevent us from sharing it in thoughtful, loving ways. Remember that it’s often our own personal testimony that will carry the most weight, particularly in the early stages of witnessing (Revelation 12:11).
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Read 2 Peter 3:18. In what ways are you growing in grace and knowledge? How is this evident in your interactions with those around you? |
The Christian life is a continual movement into the presence of God from the presence of men and back again into the presence of men from the presence of God. We face two dangers: the danger of too much work and the danger of too much withdrawal. If we are constantly occupied with work and neglect time alone with God, our service becomes ineffective because we lack the grace, wisdom, and strength that come from fellowship with Him. On the other hand, if we withdraw too much from people, we fail to share the grace God has given us with those who desperately need it. As William Barclay observed, “Prayer that does not issue in work is not real prayer.” Jesus modeled the perfect rhythm of the Christian life—communing with His Father in secret and then ministering to people in public. As He Himself declared, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
Crowds can have a powerful influence on individuals. The energy and enthusiasm of a crowd can inspire confidence, courage, and action. Yet Christians are called to view crowds differently from the world. Rather than seeing them merely as gatherings of people, we should see them as souls loved by God and in need of salvation. Jesus looked upon the crowds with compassion, “because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). His love for the multitudes moved Him to teach, heal, and ultimately give His life for them. Following His example, we should not avoid crowds nor be swept away by them, but lovingly engage them with the gospel, working and praying so that many may come to know Christ as Savior and Lord.
Being gracious in our interactions with non-believers is perhaps the kindest way to “steal” their attention and reveal Christ to them. It is more appealing to see Christ rather than simply hear about Him. How powerful is this approach in a world where religion is fast losing its taste?
People are often drawn to Christ when they first encounter His character embodied in His followers. Please do not care how much we know about Christ until they see how much Christ is in us. We cannot entice people to accept Christ with well-crafted messages which we ourselves do not practice. In a world that is increasingly suspicious of religion, authentic Christlike character can be extremely compelling. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35). Jesus did not say that everyone will know us because we keep the sabbath or we keep the law, but love is the trademark of the Christian message.
Our approach to sharing Christ must be characterised by humility and respect. “Always be prepared to give an answer… But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15). Jesus modelled this approach. He showed compassion, welcomed social outcasts, treated sinners with dignity, listened and served all those He met. People were attracted to Jesus by His gracious nature before they were attracted by His message. Our good nature will not replace the message, but will make our message credible. “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
How can we “steal” the attention of those who are aloof to religious matters? If we respond to hostility with patience, criticism with humility, or need with generosity, people are likely to ask quietly why we are different. The most persuasive form of witnessing is to embrace the character of Christ. When Christ is visibly seen in our lives, the gospel message becomes living and powerful.
John 13:35, is talking about Phileo (brotherly love) and is love within a “family” group – in this case, the disciples/church. So, despite different backgrounds and perspectives, Christians should treat each other with dignity and respect. It is this attitude toward each other that is the demonstration to the “others” Jesus references in John 13:35.
However, we are also told in Matthew 5:44 to agape/love our enemies which is a different frame of reference. One is within a “denominated” group, the other is universal.
Perhaps Phileo developed within a Christian group provides the environment for maturing the agape toward the “others” looking on. After all, if you can’t get on with those in the church, how will you get on with those outside?
YES, but can you ever learn to love someone who hurt you? I find it’s very hard, but the Lord that he can give us that love! I don’t know, but what do you all think?
Joselyne, I wonder if it will help you to realize that love is not a feeling. You don’t have to feel all warm and fuzzy towards someone who has hurt you.
Love is a principle of action. It means we look out for the welfare of others. We do not intentionally hurt them, and, as far as lies in our power, we only do what is best for them.
It also depends on what kind of hurt you are referring to. If someone actually abused you, it may be best to keep your distance from that person. But for your sake, let go of all bitterness (forgive) and leave that person for God to deal with. Forgiveness sets you free. Harboring resentment keeps you a prisoner.
“Can you ever learn to love someone who hurt you?”
Great question and I like the way you framed the question – love is something we learn. That learning includes getting wise toward others (Matthew 10:16) and using the reasoning power (Isaiah 1:18) that God has given us along with the gift of others within our community for feedback.
Hurt can either be accidental or deliberate. Deliberate hurt can be done in ignorance or rebellion. If someone deliberately hurts, has not repented, and has demonstrated continued rebellion, then we have a responsibility to prevent evil by taking reasonable and measured action. Failure to protect under these circumstances means we are enabling evil and those who love God, should hate evil (Psalm 97:10).
The other dynamic, which Inge referenced, is letting go of the past. Depending on the hurt, this is where things get more complicated and where tension between past and present meet.
Israel was commanded in Deuteronomy 23:7 not to hate/abhor/detest the Egyptian! These were the same people who hurt them very badly! Yet here, on the borders of the promised land, Moses not only reminds Israel of what happened, but commands them not to hate those who inflicted the hurt. Why highlight this now?
Basically, to be free, you need to let go of hate or you will not have the capacity to love (fully). In other words, you must live with the past but not live in the past – doing so shifts the focus from Jesus to self which is always destructive.
Jesus Himself proves it is possible to “agape” those who have hurt us (Romans 5:8). Of course, discussing this in a sanitised environment is a lot easier than living it every day. God understands our weakness, and the struggles we each have. He does not give up on us and invites us not to give up on him.
Yes, it is like an old habit over time and with prayer, letting the hurt dissipate in a daily loving relationship with God. It happens, try it, you may be surprised, and or pleased. Accepting the love of Christ by asking lets love and understanding overwhelm our hurt. Then our prayer will be; Lord take my heart for I cannot give it to you; you already own it . Take the stoney portion of my heart that was hurt and replace it with a complete heart of healthy flesh, patterned after the forging love of your character, so that the bad blood in my veins flow again with your love emanating to others. You will be pleased with the amazing results.
Have you studied Romans?
The kind of love that can love our enemies can only be present in us when we have been filled with the Holy Spirit. We can love our enemies when He opens our eyes to see the love that only can exist in the Spirit where the kingdom of God is.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:16
Have you had a born again experience where we receive the Spirit? When that happens, we find that we can live in the Kingdom of God which is in His Spirit. It is through Him that we become a new creature who can walk in the righteousness of God.
It is in the Spirit where we can find that sin no longer has dominion over us.
He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Acts 19:2
As a witness to these things, I find joy in loving my enemies. After noticing my flesh at work and continuing to seek the Spirit each time, I have now often found a natural tendency in loving those who
have done something that can hurt me. In this state I enjoy the peace that surpasses all understanding.
All that I enjoy is available to you as well.
Seek and you shall find.
Growing in grace and knowledge is not just about learning more about God in an intellectual way, but about being steadily shaped by Him so that His character shows up in how we live, especially in ordinary, unplanned moments. Pray always to
rely less on self-effort and more on daily dependence on the Lord.
Thank you, Jesus for the cross.
Lord,please lead us to grow in your knowledge and grace.
Amen!
For a number of years I worked as a Colporteur, selling Adventist books. One of the things that I observed during my selling experience is that in most cases, you have “to sell yourself” before you can sell the book. By that I mean, the platform upon which you can present your book for sale; is yourself.
Therefore when we are invited into the home we don’t immediately dive into our bags to show our books. We chat briefly, discovering first their interest and needs. Similarly as witnesses for Christ , we must mingle with the people, winning their confidence, discovering their interests and needs; and utilisng these avenues to ultimately introduce them to the Lover of their lives, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
So well said. Thank you, Steve!
And, by the way, that is also the reason to take care of our bodes – to stay healthy and dress neatly. People judge Christianity by Christians, and we don’t want to misrepresent God.
The question comes down to, can people see Jesus in us? If not then all the talking is just noise. A personal testimony is something that people can’t argue over. It’s your experience. People can and will argue, debate, or disagree with your theology, however, they are often speechless and “spell-bound” in listening to your experience with the living God.
If we ever hope to win some to the Savior we must be winsome. The best method is the Jesus method.
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good. He showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He invited them, “Follow Me.”
Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.
Christ’s method worked because it broke down defensive barriers. It built bridges instead of walls. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Luke 19:30 – How does “having been found” manifests in the new life of the believer? Can the one who is lost see the ‘having been found’ in the believer? The lost cannot find the way home because he is lost. Can we who believe show the ‘Way Home’ to the one who is lost?
If a person does not think that they are lost, can they still benefit from having a conversation about being ‘lost and found’? How do we demonstrate the Right Way, how can we help if they refuse to change their direction? Hopefully, God’s Grace will again knock on the door of their heart, and maybe they’ll remember their conversation about choosing “the right Way”.
Matt.7:13-14 speaks to the broad way which many travel toward destruction. To enter through the straight gate requires man to humble himself, to acknowledge the inability to find the right Way by one’s own efforts. We can not prompt them to humble themselves, but God’s work of Grace has the power to draw man to Himself through the work of the Holy Spirit. No matter how lost we are in the ‘wilderness’, He welcomes everyone to lead us ‘Home’ on His Way of Life and Light – it is the only way to live – John 8:12; John 14:6; John 1:4.
Brigitte, I didn’t realize how lost I was until I was “found” by Jesus. In the parables of the lost coin, the lost son, and the lost sheep, you see everyone that is lost represented. Some, like the lost coin, don’t know they are lost and frankly don’t care.
The lost son knew that he was lost and decided to make his way back home in repentance. It was the knowledge of the Father that led him to return home, even if it meant being a servant.
The lost sheep may or may not have realized it was lost but had no clue how to get back to the Shepherd. The shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to go find the one lost sheep.
The saying, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink,” has a second part to it. “But you can salt his oats.” In other words the way we live out our Christianity should make non-believers desire to have what we have in Jesus. It should make them thirsty for that “living water” that Jesus offers.
Brigitte, you wrote,
I suspect that trying to talk to a person about being “lost” may not be the best approach. When Jesus walked this earth, ordinary people saw realized their sinfulness in His presence. It was the self-righteous who rejected Him.
From that I gather that we first need to have the love of Jesus in our hearts, and that will show in our attitude. He went about helping and healing people – meeting their felt needs. Only then did He teach them about His Kingdom and invited them to follow Him.
The most challenging witnessing situation is witnessing for family members. Where intimacy exists, defects are also shown, and witnessing can lose its strength. The relationship with the Lord has to be stronger than with others.
I just finished reading the book of Nehemiah. The book, especially the last chapter, reminds me that serving God is a deeply personal matter rooted in complete surrender to Him. Nehemiah faithfully led the people, taught them God’s will, corrected their errors, and called them back to covenant faithfulness. Yet he could not make them remain faithful. That decision belonged to each individual.
This reflects God’s own way of leading. He reveals His truth, lovingly invites us to follow Him, and patiently works in our lives, but He never forces our obedience. As Christians, our responsibility is to share the gospel, encourage one another, and pray for one another. We are called to present God’s truth with love and conviction, while recognizing that each person must choose whether to accept the gospel and live in faithful obedience to the Lord.