Love Enough to Speak Truth

Week 2-day 5

The truth is: 

"Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." Hebrews 13:4 .."Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor. 6:9-11 

That is what we were, and now we are free to obey and live abundant life with the peace that the world is desperately SEARCHING for! 

That is good news. 

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions (heresies), envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:19-24 

Those are two distinctly different lists, and sadly, we live in a society that is fighting for the rights of its citizens to freely live in that first list, in the deeds of the flesh, which does not end well. 

And if we, as Christians, come alongside that movement with an attitude of 'live and let live', we choose not to care about the eternal consequences for others, the lack of peace, nor the fruit of the Spirit that is kept from those who do not know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

Therefore, speak the truth in love.

 Amplified Version Eph. 4:12-15

...12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; 13 until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity]. 14 So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit]. 15 But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.”

And if I may put that in other words: 

Love enough to speak truth! All truth.

"All scripture is inspired by God (God-breathed) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16

-Ask the Lord what that looks like for you to speak truth in love, keeping in mind that it is “the kindness of God that leads to repentance” (Romans 2:4).  Doors open to speak the loving truth when people truly know how much you genuinely care.  That may be your starting point.  Ask God to give you HIS loving heart for people, a prayer He loves to answer.  

(This is part of a 6 week prayer strategy series. To return to 'watch the ramparts' homepage: click here)