Scripture: James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.
Devotion: Along with their responsibilities, ambassadors have specific skills that help them within their job. One of these is diplomatic negotiation. This involves finding common interests and mutually beneficial agreements. This requires excellent communication, listening, and a deep understanding of cultural nuances.
We can learn a lot about our role as an ambassador of Christ through this skillset. While we are not called to negotiate on the Word of God or what the gospel is, we can seek to find common interests and neutral ground for facilitating those conversations. If we come out guns blazing with a domineering tone, we likely won’t be received well. We can look for an opening that allows us to be relatable and approachable. Much like the skills that it takes to be effective in diplomatic negotiation, we should strive to have clear communication, offer a listening ear, and be understanding of people’s circumstances and background when we share with them.
An example of this is the Celebrate Recovery ministry at church. It is a support group for anyone who has hurts, habits, and hang ups. They create an atmosphere where all are welcome and feel comfortable to share their story. The group is not negotiating on the gospel itself. In fact, while everyone is welcome to the group, the goal is for each person to turn from their sin and find freedom in Christ. It’s not a group that invites people to stay stuck in their habits and patterns, but rather points to the truth of God’s word and what it says about them. But what is also offered is forgiveness and grace. An environment where people feel seen and welcomed. A listening ear and people who get it.
Bringing these skills into our conversations about Jesus will help us in so many ways. They help us to build trust and understanding in our relationships, even when we have different views. It helps us to create a way in, through loving other people, to truly share about Jesus.
Reflect:
- Of communication, listening, and understanding people’s circumstances/backgrounds, which do you feel is a strength of yours? How might you improve in one of these areas?
