We can lead a horse to water but we can’t make him drink.
It’s a fact-based figure of speech that some of us have have literally experienced.
How many times have we given advice to a person that would make their lives easier, but they just won’t accept it?
Too many.
But, of course, God can say the same thing about us.
The fact is that our love for others should stir us to steer others toward the Living Water of God’s Word.
We can’t make them drink, but perhaps we can prompt them to think.
The confluence of the Holy Spirit’s convicting influence, the self-evident truth of scripture and the integrity-based example that we portray just might lead our unsaved relative or friend to genuinely consider his or her need for repentance and Jesus as Savior.
As Paul wrote in I Corinthians, one person plants the gospel seed, another waters it with loving encouragement and personal example, but it is only God who triggers spiritual transformation as in “providing the increase.”
This is the point of Jesus’ words to Peter recorded in today’s reading from the One-Year Bible.
“Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
“Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.’ (Matthew 16:16-17)
Let’s do our best to provide Gospel seeds. Let’s provide good spiritual examples.
Let’s remember, though, to pray for conversions as our best strategy. Why? Because the spiritual awakening of the heart to the reality of Christ as Messiah is something that only God can bring about, not us.
As always, I love you
Martin
