Tuesday, March 01, 2016

In our last visit I introduced the subject of learning from the master Communicator, Jesus Christ, how we can more effectively communicate in our daily conversations. I mentioned how Jesus often was very direct in what He had to say. You see this in His sermon on the mount where He said, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago…But I tell you.” He was referring to various laws found in the Old Testament. People would often say they have kept the laws, but when Jesus looked them in the eye and amplified what the law really meant it was like He was exposing what they would never admit to on their own. Remember the rich young man in Matthew 19:16-22, who came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to obtain eternal life? Jesus said, “Keep the commandments.” When he asked, “Which ones?” Jesus listed a few. He confidently answered, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus told him to sell all he owned and give it to the poor and then follow Him. The directness of his instruction staggered the man and he turned and “went away sad, because he had great wealth.” Jesus implied the same thing in Matthew 4:18-19, when He said to the fishermen, Peter and Andrew, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” When Jesus spoke directly to someone they were faced with a decision to respond positively or to turn away. Such confrontation can be awkward, but Jesus didn’t shy away from being direct when He knew it was necessary.