Speak The Truth In Love

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Permalink Reply by AnDraea on January 30, 2010 at 3:06pm

Hey Simplysaved-Thanks for starting this thread. I'm sorry the discussion went south on the Steve Harvey topic. I thought at least some of it was productive.

How do we speak the truth in love? I would say first of all we can't speak the truth in love unless we truly have the love of Jesus Christ in our hearts (and even then it's not always easy). It's not enough to know the truth, b/c even Satan himself knows the truth (and he will use the truth of our own faults against us). In order to speak the truth in love we have to be gentle instead of hot-headed; patient/forbearing/tolerant, humble instead of prideful/self-righteous, willing to forgive, willing to accept correction/give correction, desiring to keep unity with the body of Chris;and we must be honest-with ourselves as well as God and others. We must stand on sound doctrine and yet not divide over minute issues. These are things that I have had to learn from the scriptures, from sound teaching, and from my brothers and sisters in Christ (because I can get hot-headed if the right button is pushed). At any rate Ephesians Chapter 4 explains these things in detail (readers should read the whole chapter).

Discussion boards like this are beneficial because you can actually read/see/process what you and others are saying, and really consider the impact of your words. It's important to listen to other people and make every effort to really understand them and not misinterpret what someone may be trying to say...kinda like listening with your heart.

Love is a verb- it has to be practiced and rehearsed over and over again until we get it right. Times are becoming increasingly evil as the end draws nigh, and we are going to need each other more than ever before. So again thank you for this post, and may the Spirit of Christ lead us all into complete unity under His eternal love and truth.

Ephesians Chapter 4
II Timothy 4:1-5
I John Chapter 4
I Corinthians 13

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