By Bob Goff
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
MICAH 6:8
Have you ever been able to change someone’s heart and mind with a compelling argument? Yeah, me neither. I’m a lawyer. I win arguments for a living. Still, what sways a jury won’t reshape our worldview. I think there are a number of reasons. One is that we can try to convince someone about what’s “true,” but we can’t make it matter to them, and people will only move forward
on things that matter to them. I’m not saying we shouldn’t voice our opinions or disagree with people, but I think we need to reboot how we’re having the debate. I’ve learned the power of letting other people have the last word. It won’t kill you. Yield the last word and you’ll make an impression.
The next time things get a little heated, make it an opportunity to show love and grace, even if you’ve got a different opinion. Say the truth in love but be willing to concede the last word. When we let other people have the last word, we let them know we’re more interested in spreading love than winning arguments. Instead of convincing people we’re right, let’s be humble. Humble people know when to speak up and when to be silent. People listen to our lives even more than our words, and it will be love that moves them in the end.
In what ways can you be more humble today?
Also read the Bible Gateway Blog posts:
- Live in Grace, Walk in Love: A Daily Rhythm
- Live in Grace, Walk in Love: The World Will Know What We Believe by Seeing What We Do (Oct. 30)
The above article is excerpted from Live in Grace, Walk in Love: A 365-day Journey (Thomas Nelson, 2019) by Bob Goff (@bobgoff). Copyright © 2019 by Bob Goff. Published by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com. All rights reserved.
Live in Grace, Walk in Love is published by HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the parent company of Bible Gateway.
Bio: Bob Goff is the founder of Love Does, a nonprofit organization that operates schools and pursues justice for children in conflict areas such as Uganda, Somalia, Afghanistan, Nepal, and India. The author of several bestselling books, Bob is a lawyer and serves as the honorary consul for the Republic of Uganda to the United States. He is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine Law School and Point Loma Nazarene University and lives in San Diego with Sweet Maria, their kids, and extended family.
Learn more about grace and love when you become a member of Bible Gateway Plus. Try it free right now!
The post Live in Grace, Walk in Love: Quit Being “Right.” Be Humble. appeared first on Bible Gateway Blog.
