Jesus: Both Grace and Truth.

[Reading Time: Approx. 9 min]

Lesson 10 Devotional: Jesus | He Guides with Grace and Truth (Jhn 1:14)

John 1:14 (NIV)¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

In our last lesson, we focused on honoring people for who they are and respecting their individual journeys. This is one aspect of leading others to Christ. We emphasized the importance of allowing them to grow and explore the path God has uniquely given them—whether that takes a short time or a long time.

Acts 26:28–29 (NIV)28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Guiding Others to Christ with GraceIn this lesson, however, we will delve into another aspect of leading others to Christ. While respecting each person’s path is crucial, we must simultaneously take an active role in guiding them to Christ with grace and truth. Whether we are husbands or wives, parents, mentors, or someone who influences others, it’s our responsibility to direct and encourage those around us to come to repentance and follow Christ. But we should do so by urging them and loving them with a spirit of grace, as demonstrated by Jesus.

Mark 10.17–21 (NIV)17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Notice that Jesus looked at him and loved him. And the apostle Paul shows us the spirit of encouragement with which we are to help lead others to and in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (NIV)11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

He speaks of a gentleness in calling people to follow Christ, similar to how fathers deal with their own children.

Guiding Our Children to Christ in Grace and TruthThis brings us to one of the most important relationships in which we are to help bring people to Christ: our children. In addition to what we read in the passage above, Paul also guides us on our role as parents.

Ephesians 6:4 (NIV)4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Part of our role as parents is to teach our children the story of God. Some parents feel that they don’t want to “force the Bible” onto their kids, worrying that this might push them away, especially when their kids say they don’t want to hear what the Bible says. When this is the case, there’s a good chance the problem lies in the way we are sharing the Word with them. The Word of God was meant to be taught from a relationship-first perspective, not a rules-first perspective. If we weaponize the Bible to manipulate our kids into behaving the way we want them to, that will surely repel them from God’s Word.Although Paul says we are to bring our children up in training and instruction, we have to do it in the context of how God intended. He intended it to be done from a relationship-first perspective. If we teach and train the do’s and don’ts, that will just produce rule followers, not Christ lovers.However, if we share the Word in ways that show how God loves them and is longing to show them grace, they will be more likely to yearn for His Word. So, let’s use the Word to both encourage and admonish our children, remembering that God showed His love to His people Israel by delivering them from Egypt before He gave them the Law of Moses.In fact, before leaving Egypt, He instructed the Israelites to tell their children in future generations about how to live because of the great love that God showed them by delivering them from Egypt (Exodus 12:26-27; Exodus 13:8). This was the context of all the “rules” he gave them. He wanted them to understand the “why” behind all the commands He was going to later give the Israelites. God created a backdrop of love to overlay His commands. If we teach God’s Word in this way, our children will see God and His Word in a completely different light. He’s not a God of commands and rules, but a God of relationships.Let’s use the Word to teach them about the amazingly loving God we serve. "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19).

Guiding Others to Christ with TruthAs we share with them the great love of our God, we also encourage and admonish them to repent of the sin that is separating them from God. Just as Jesus saw clearly that wealth was the idol of the rich ruler, and the woman caught in adultery was in obvious sin, we should also be clear on the areas that those we are seeking to help are struggling in. When we have that clarity, we can share the Word with them in truth. We can teach them what the Word says about this sin and give them hope for change. But they need to see the truth of their sin as written in God’s Word.But it’s also important for us as parents or leaders to be clear on what our own sins are. Jesus warns us in Matthew 7:3-5, *"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."* Difficult situations and people in our lives help refine us to be made in Christ's likeness (Romans 8:28-29). This is particularly true with our children, as there are certain things they do that get under our skin and cause us to struggle with sin.

Sometimes the "plank" (Matt 7:3-5) is fear.

We need to have spiritual action plans and specific Bible passages memorized that we can recall in our minds or recite sub-vocally in situations to block the attacks of the enemy. Remember, the word of God is the sword of the Spirit that we can use in spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:17).

Spiritual Warfare: Strategies and TacticsIn our journey to guide others, especially those we love, it’s crucial to be strategic in planning for common spiritual threats. Just as a military platoon prepares for possible IEDs, we must prepare for potential spiritual attacks and challenges.

Proverbs 22:3 (NIV)3 The prudent see danger and take refuge,but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

For example, you might know that certain times of the day can be challenging—perhaps when you return home from work, you feel overwhelmed by stress, leading to impatience or frustration with your family. This can be draining, but it’s also predictable. Knowing this, you can prepare by praying, reviewing Bible passages, or spending a few minutes reciting specific scriptures—Philippians 4:6-7, which speaks of God’s peace, is a powerful passage to meditate on in preparation for such scenarios.Or perhaps you notice that when you face financial pressures, it tempts you to worry and lose sight of God’s provision. In these moments, remembering and meditating on Matthew 6:25-34, where Jesus teaches us not to worry about our needs, can refocus your mind on trusting God.Prayer is essential in spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:10-17 reminds us that we are in a spiritual battle, and we must put on the full armor of God to stand against the enemy's schemes. Jesus Himself emphasized the power of prayer when He said, *"This kind can come out only by prayer"* (Mark 9:29, NIV). Through prayer, we can block the attacks of the enemy on those we are trying to reach for Christ. I’ve personally witnessed how God has changed my heart and my reactions after I’ve prayed about specific struggles. Additionally, I’ve noticed that the more I pray, the more peace and strength I have to handle the challenges I face.We also need to be proactive in rebuking the spirits that may be influencing those we are seeking to save or strengthen in the faith. Jesus demonstrated this in Mark 9:25, "When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. 'You deaf and mute spirit,' he said, 'I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.'" Similarly, in Matthew 4:10, Jesus said to Satan, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’" As we engage in spiritual warfare, we must be ready to rebuke the enemy’s influence with the authority given to us through Christ. We can’t just let Satan keep “hanging around.”But this isn’t just about defensive strategy. We need to be ready offensively to focus on our strategic plan of attack. When I say "attack," I don’t mean confronting our loved ones harshly, but rather advancing God’s plan in that relationship. It would help if you had a plan for what you want to accomplish—whether it’s strengthening the individual or moving them closer to faith. Focus on that plan, not just on defending yourself from potential emotional or spiritual harm.As we pray for those we are seeking to win for Christ, we must always be listening for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. He will often reveal specific passages we need to share or lessons we need to put together. Sometimes, these lessons are as much for us as they are for the other person—they may reveal areas where we need to repent or grow to be more effective in helping them. Remember the teaching about the plank in our own eye from Matthew 7:3-5.

Walking as Jesus Did: Practical Application

How can we apply what we’ve learned today to walk as Jesus did?:

1Be Relationship-Focused. Speak of God‘s love (John 3:16).
2Speak Truth with Kindness. Challenge people to repent in a kind way as Jesus did with the rich ruler (Mark 10.21). But remember also that Jesus was not always so mild (See Matthew 21:12-13).
3Speak the Truth. Jesus was kind, but he also spoke truth. He told the people that they were an adulterous generation (Matthew 12.39). He didn’t pull punches.

Lesson 10 Training Tips: Guiding with Love and Truth

Getting More from Your Study of the GospelsThese insights aim to build your faith, deepen your understanding, and encourage practical application of God’s Word.

1Read: Read Mark 10:21 out loud. Notice what words or phrases stand out to you. What did you feel the Holy Spirit was trying to teach you as you read it. Share in the Comments section below.
2Meditate: Meditate on Mark 10:17-21. Think through how Jesus demonstrates grace and truth with this man. Think about how this applies to you as the giver of grace and truth to those God has put in your life to help become Christians and those He's using you to help mature in Christ. Share in the comments section below.
3Pray: Pray through Mark 10:17-21, ask that God would help you to have the same attitude as Jesus when you need to speak the truth in love to others.

ConclusionIn this lesson, we explored the importance of guiding others to Christ with both grace and truth. Whether influencing our children or others, it's vital to lead with love and foster a relationship with God rather than just enforcing rules. As we walk as Jesus did, let's focus on sharing God's love and truth to encourage repentance and bring others closer to Him.

Up Next!In the next lesson, as we move into Module 3, we will cover how Jesus helps us understand our purpose as children of God and how we can embrace our identity in Him.

Lesson 10: Jesus | With Him, We Guide with Grace & Truth (Jhn 1:14)

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