“If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.” —Paul the Apostle
Communicating truth may be black and white. However, to someone who is blind, how can we describe the beauty of a sunset, the smile on the face of a laughing child, or the color of tropical ocean? The truth is a California sunset, a child’s smile, and the Pacific ocean is difficult to describe to someone who doesn’t have a point of reference.
Similarly, God’s grace and love is almost indescribable to someone who is spiritually blind.
When describing Truth (truth with a capital T), we must communicate in L-O-V-E. If we have not love, like Paul says, we have nothing.
- Have you tried sharing Truth without love? What happened?
- When you spoke gently in love, what was the outcome?
To watch the full lesson from week four of the Scandalous Message of James, click HERE.
Love is all I have…without love I have nothing!!!
Big hug…with love,
Markus 🙂
WOW…what a message! I agree that L-O-V-E is the only way people will hear, feel, and surrender to the T-ruth…
Preach on sista!
Those words were repeated over and over in my head last night as I lovingly and gently rebuked my husband. Even though I used kinds words, low tone, and was a gentle as possible by using nothing but scripture, I found it painful…. it seemed painful to him as well as he sat quietly reading scripture I shared with him.
The outcome?
We went to bed, quiet… I cried and felt hopeless… He called me a few minutes ago to tell me he loves me.
That’s Love! Our Lord heard our cries.
So precious Norma! God is so faithful to not only hear our cries, but to touch the hearts of those around us too. I'm glad you shared this and it is a sweet reminder to communicate with love to my husband.
Of all things we as Christians profess Love should be what we are known for. Love of God and love of our fellow human beings. If we are not loving like the Bible calls us to love maybe we need to check and see if we have the Jesus we claim to have. John says we can have assurance of our salvation by looking at how we love.
You. Rock. The. Kasbah.
I love seeing your gift, passion and the song of your heart. Preach it, sister!!!! 😉
This is an area that I have needed much growth in over the years. As a new Christian I dished out the word of truth but not in love=-( I grew up in a home where Blunt up in your face truth was the only way we communicated. I saw it as a strength before I surrender my life to Christ. It has taken Years and lots of love and correction from our Father in Heaven for me to understand how unprofitable my harsh (but honest) tongue was. God has been faithful to show me the error of my old ways and changed my heart=-) I don't want to be a "clanging cymbal" to the broken and lost. I want them to hear and see Christ love thru me…even when I have to share hard truths. Truth..absolutely!. But now I only speak it if my truth is sieved through this scripture 1Cr 13:4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 1Cr 13:5 or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. 1Cr 13:6 It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 1Cr 13:7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. I am much more effective now when I check my heart!!
Another outstanding lesson. thank you.
you're so gifted 🙂
and so beautiful!
love you!
xoxo
WOW! Very powerful! What a great message!
Truth and Love go hand in hand. When telling the truth, you must do so in love.
Regarding speaking gently: You can't catch bees with sour apples! When you control your tongue, good things happen, when you let loose your tongue, you pierce. I know. I've done it. I've also had it done to me. Sometimes when I loose control of my tongue it's when I KNOW I am right..but there are times when I am wrong. Once, something did , spend countless hours on was destroyed..it hurt me deeply. My tongue got the best of me, not in a vulgar way, but anger. I wish I could cut it off and burn it.
I'm a work in progress. I am learning, daily, the Potter is molding me into what HE wants me to be, I just need to listen to HIS direction.
Love the study…
I love it when you post your videos…thank you girl!!!