Share Your Hope with Readiness and Patience // Jude 1:22

Jude 1:22 says, “Be merciful to those who doubt” (NIV). I think that’s great advice. I know there are times when I struggle to explain things that come so easy to me to someone else who struggles to understand. If I’m not careful, I can get snippy and condescending. That certainly doesn’t help to win people to your side, does it? We need to take this same approach with faith. God is wooing everyone to Him, and it takes some people longer to experience God through the lens of faith. When that’s the case, they don’t need people to be snippy or condescending, but willing to take all the necessary time to share the “why” of Jesus. Peter wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15, NIV). That’s sage advice, isn’t it?