Our Savior's Strategy of Communication
In the book of Revelation the risen, ascended Lord Jesus Christ appears to the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos and, among other things, gives the Beloved Apostle a letter to each of seven churches in Asia Minor. These letters from the risen Lord Himself are found in the second and third chapters of Revelation.
In each of the letters if the church was doing something right He always told them what they were doing well before He told them what they were doing wrong.
That is not a bad strategy to employ when we are dealing with others. Wouldn't it be better to compliment our spouses on what they are doing right before we broach subjects of conflict. Wouldn't that be a great strategy to employ in discussing issues with our children, our parents, our siblings, and other family members?
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Would it not revolutionize our churches if Christians applied Jesus' strategy in discussions and disagreements with our brothers and sisters in Christ?
Perhaps if we did the world might say once again, as Tertullian (160 AD – 220 AD) reported observers remarking of Christians in the second century, "See, they say, how they love one another."
Wouldn't that be a wonderful change from Christians' all too frequent current reputation, which is, "behold these Christians, how they bicker with each other."
So as Christians we should remember, if one can say something positive or complimentary say that first, then discuss the differences.
In the first of Jesus' letters, the one to the church at Ephesus, Jesus first commends them for what they are doing right: 1) their hard work for the Gospel 2) their steadfastness in the face of persecution and 3) their doctrinal orthodoxy. Then He issues His condemnation: they "had left their first love."
He warns them, "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent" or else He would remove their light.
Note, He commends them for working hard and being faithful. But hard work can become drudgery if it is done for duty's sake alone. Doctrinal orthodoxy can become cold, grim, and barren if it isn't warmed by love.
As Christians we should do and say and think the right thing, not just because it is the right thing to do, say, and think. We should do and say and think the right thing because we love Jesus and we want to feel His pleasure with our obedience.
We should do and say and think the right thing not primarily because it makes us happy, although it will in the end, but because Jesus will be pleased and take pleasure in our devotion to Him.
Let all of us as followers of Jesus resolve to heed our Lord's warning and keep the first thing first – namely, loving Jesus because He first loved us and died for us and now we seek to serve, honor, and please Him because we love Him.
