Cultivate Compassion for "All Sorts of People" - IMITATE PAUL'S COMPASSION

The apostle Paul showed compassion even for people who reacted violently to his preaching.  Why? Because he remembered how he use to be.  He said: "Formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor  and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and with a lack of faith." (1 Timothy 1:13) Paul knew that Jehovah and Jesus had been very merciful to him.  He could understand the people who wanted to stop his preaching, because he once felt as they did.

At times, Paul met people who strongly believed  in false teachings. How did that make him feel?  At Acts 17:16, we read that while he was in Athens, he "became irritated on seeing that the city was full of idols."  However, Paul used the very thing that irritated him as way to teach people (Acts 17:22, 23)  He adjusted the way he preached, and the way he spoke in a different way to people of different backgrounds so that he "might by all possible means save some." - 1 CORINTHIANS 9:20-23.

When we preach to people who react in a negative way or who have wrong beliefs, we can do what Paul did. We can use what we know about them to help them learn about the "good news of something better."  (Isaiah 52:7) A sister named Dorothy says: "In our territory, many have been taught that God is harsh and judgmental. I commend such people for their strong belief in God and then draw their attention to what the Bible says about Jehovah's loving personality and his promises for the future."

Next time: Cultivate Compassion for "All Sorts of People" - 'KEEP CONQUERING THE EVIL WITH THE GOOD"

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