Hello everyone. We are seeing the words written in my picture illustration play out this very day in our country.
We have a President who does not know how to speak the truth in love or even when to speak. I pray everyday that he does learn and that God will send someone to him to teach him respectfully and humbly before the damage is irreprable. We have self-righteous lawmakers who do this trying to score political points when in reality they just want control. I pray for them to repent and their eyes to be opened. Unfortunately, we also have some in the church who do this, trying to prove how holy they are when in reality they are just religious, miserable and hate themselves. I pray for them to come to know how much Jesus loves them. I want our politicians and our President to even know how much Jesus loves them. If they did, they would not speak such things to others.
Perhaps truth would be much more valued in this day and age if we spoke it with as much love, kindness and respect as Jesus did? Have you ever read the story of Jesus and the woman at the well? I will leave the scripture reference here for you so you can see how Jesus spoke to people and how He did not - John 4:4-26.
We must speak truth with the same kindness, respect and most of all love. We also must build a good, trusting relationships with the people we speak to or no truth we speak to them will matter. Truth in the absence of love, is just noise, loud annoying noise. I hope you understand where I'm coming from with this blog. I will also leave you Paul's words on love and words. I hope they encourage us all to speak and act in all things in love. It is a long passage, but worth reading:
The Excellence of Love
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 AMP Bible
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. 3 If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body [b]to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
4 Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud orarrogant. 5 It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. 7 Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete]. 10 But when that which is complete and perfect comes, that which is incomplete andpartial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. 13 And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.
Until next time,
Elizabeth