Keep Your Enemies Closer
You care for someone, but you don't care for their behavior. The old adage "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" has application here. Influence comes with relationship, so move toward them however you can so that your heart and love for them will soften their heart toward what you're saying. Avoid frequent confrontation; that will only push them away. Look, you're not tolerating their poor choices; you're trusting that closeness has more redemptive influence than distant judgment.
Show Notes
About the Guest
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You care for someone, but you don't care for their behavior. The old adage "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" has application here. Influence comes with relationship, so move toward them however you can so that your heart and love for them will soften their heart toward what you're saying. Avoid frequent confrontation; that will only push them away. Look, you're not tolerating their poor choices; you're trusting that closeness has more redemptive influence than distant judgment.
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When you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, don’t move away-move toward.
Ron: When you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, don’t move away—move toward.
Announcer: For FamilyLife Blended®, here’s Ron Deal.
Ron: What a dilemma: You care for someone, but you don’t care for their behavior. Well, retaining influence is your goal. You can’t do that if you distance yourself which is what most people do. The old adage “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” has some application here. Influence comes with relationship, so move toward them however you can so that your heart and love for them will soften their heart toward what you’re saying.
And avoid frequent confrontation; that will only push them away. Look, you’re not tolerating their poor choices; you’re just trusting that closeness has more redemptive influence than distant judgment. For FamilyLife Blended, I’m Ron Deal.
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