It is so freeing to know that it is not our job to convince others how they need to change or what they need to do. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. In John 16:8 Jesus said that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and convinces people of the truth. That means that you and I don't have to try to "play God" in other people's lives.
The Bible calls us to a life of simplicity, and yet so often we feel that we have to figure everything out and know the ins and outs of every situation and know the reason for everything that happens in life. Proud people are often complicated and unhappy people trying to convince others that they are right and others are wrong.
We are to be imitators of Jesus Christ and He wasn't out to prove anything, He wasn't concerned about what people thought about him, He already knew who He was, so He didn't feel the need to defend himself. He responded in a peaceful and loving way.
You and I are to be soothing, kind, simple, humble, pliable and adaptable, not harsh, hard, proud, rigid and unbending. In order to do this we will need help from the Holy Spirit, who is our teacher. It says in Ephesians 4:22-24 "Strip yourselves of your former nature which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new nature created in God's image, in true righteousness and holiness." Our nature is seen through our conversation, which means that the kind of person we are is revealed by what we say. Our nature comes out of our mouth. In Proverbs 15:1 it says a soft answer turns away wrath. Our words can bring peace to troubled waters.
Real change doesn't come easily or quickly!
Most of us would like to just take a pill or utter some magic words one night and wake up the next morning totally different, completely transformed. It just doesn't work that way. We will need to
co-operate with the Lord step by step as He brings us into conformity to His will, His way and gradually transform us into His image.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!
2 Corinthians 3:17
