Dealing Gently

He [a high priest] can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;
Hebrews 5:2

God calls us to deal gently with the ignorant and misguided. These people need gentle guidance and teaching. They are not deliberately doing wrong. They simply don't understand. It's sometimes easy to be harsh or reproving. Yet, God wants us to lead them kindly. Jesus is a good example of this. He was very kind to those who were seeking. Yet, He very harshly reproved those who were knowingly going against what they knew.

This is also a challenge for us to follow the knowledge we have. God will honor us when we obey what we know, but He will judge us for turning against the truth we know. We have had much teaching about God and the Bible. So, we are very responsible.

Lord, help me to be gentle with those who are ignorant. Help me to be willing to speak against those who have turned against the truth they know. Give me wisdom to know that difference. Help me to know how best to reach all those around me for You.