Love speaks the truth, do you? God commands believers to speak the truth in love, but I am not reading many biblical responses to the moral issues of our day. As I write, Bruce Jenner’s revelation is just the latest, so I am reading a lot about tolerance, compassion, and allowing people to do what makes them happy. Too many are telling people only what they want to hear. Why?
For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:21
The “wisdom” of this world constantly changes.
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. 1 Corinthians 3:18-19
Only God and His Word are eternal and never change.
“I the Lord do not change,” says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 3:6-7
When there is an assault on the Word of God it is an assault on God Himself. Like Goliath, the world’s followers bully the followers of the one true God to agree with the thinking of the day. While God and His Word are being trampled with little or no push back, few see it as a disgrace as David saw it in his day. The truth is missing in action everywhere.
“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26
David was willing to stand alone against Goliath while the armies of Israel cowered in unbelief on the sidelines because they did not believe God could help them. David believed in God and knew His power by experience.
“All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:47
Where are the “David’s” of our day? Who is willing to stand up for God’s truth in the marketplace of ideas? God’s Word tells us how:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11
Believers are called to follow Jesus Christ and to be His ambassadors to an unbelieving world. Ambassadors are not silent, nor do they speak for themselves. The world needs to hear biblical truth! God looks for people who are courageous in the power of the Holy Spirit to speak the truth in love.
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15
The World Needs to Hear Biblical Truth!
What is Truth?
The answer to “what is truth?” is God is truth, and He loves us enough to speak the truth.
I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. Isaiah 45:19
Jesus answers Pilate: “For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37
Only Holy God can determine the truth of what is right and wrong because the whole world is under the control and lies of the evil one.
God gives us His Word so that we can know the truth.
Jesus prays for His disciples: I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Make them holy by your truth; your word is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. John 17:14, 18
The Bible is inspired and the revealed Word of God. The spiritual battle always begins with an attack on the truth of God’s Word by those who do not know God or His Word. Therefore, what passes for truth today is whatever most people agree with or whatever helps people to fit in. This is called political correctness.
Tolerance is not love because it is devoid of the truth. There is no love without the truth because God is both truth and love!
God’s Word warns us:
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Isaiah 5:20
When the truth of God’s Word is rejected, man takes God’s place and rules. We see this happening in our world today.
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 17:6
God’s Word gives us His discernment to understand the spiritual battle:
They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:5-6
How Your Creator Defines Happiness
Personal happiness and tolerance are the standards the world judges by, not the truth of God’s Word, yet the rejection of God never leads to true happiness.
The Bible is the Word of God and defines happy by the word, blessed. Blessings come from God and the outcome of being blessed by Him is to be happy; to enjoy well-being and contentment.
Read the following verses and ask yourself if you define happiness this way:
This is what the Lord says: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.” Jeremiah 17:7
“Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” Romans 4:7-8
Jesus said: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-11
It is obvious from reading these verses that the world defines happiness apart from God and apart from His revealed will. Do you? Don’t be deceived. Happiness is knowing Jesus Christ and doing the will of God!
There is No Love without the Truth!
Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is right, who speaks the truth from His heart. Psalm 15:1-2
The Bible tells us the truth about ourselves because God is love, and He speaks the truth. If you know the truth from God’s Word but say something else, this is not love, it is a lie. Truth and love should never be separated because both truth and love represent the character of God. When we only want to talk about God’s love without His truth, we misrepresent God! Jesus spoke the truth about our sin, and He demonstrated His love for sinful man through His death on the cross.
Jesus said: It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32
If you had a deadly illness, would you want to go to a doctor who would not tell you the truth? Instead of the truth, the doctor only tells you what you want to hear; that you are doing great. Is this love? The doctor knows the truth and has the remedy, but he sends you home anyway because the truth will make himself and you uncomfortable. When you are on your death bed, you will know the truth, and you will wonder how the doctor could be so unloving.
If we were honest, what passes for love in this world is deeply stained with self-interests. Like the doctor, we say the acceptable words of the day that make us look and feel good. We exalt ourselves, not God! It is not love when we tell people only what they want to hear and not what is in their best interest.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4
If we enable people by excusing wrongdoing, we are not serving God and we may be keeping someone else from the life of Christ.
Fear Is Not Faith!
We know very well that speaking the truth has a price. Jesus was rejected and crucified and we are not above our master. Each of us must choose whom we will serve every day.
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10
The reality for a follower of Christ is:
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12
Only when we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit will we speak the truth in love.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. Ephesians 5:8-12
In a world full of lies, Christians who speak the truth in love shine like stars in a crooked and depraved generation as they hold out the Word of Life.
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3
Godly Wisdom to Remember
Jesus Christ faced the same evil forces we do, yet He spoke truth to an unbelieving world. Do you forget that He lives in you! As God calls you to respond, He will give you His wisdom and discernment and the right words to say as you rely on Him. God understands the difficulty of balancing truth and love, so He has given believers the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us. Only the Spirit of God can achieve the balance of truth and love, so we must rely on Him.
Don’t love what God hates!
To fear the lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Proverbs 8:13
Everything we do is to be done for the glory of God and this includes our opinions and responses. Jesus is Lord of our lives, or He is not!
Don’t let this be said of you: Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:32
We are called to be conformed to the likeness of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, not the world. With God’s help, think and act biblically when you interact with others.
And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26
These verses in Timothy are the reason we must speak the truth from God’s Word and not be silent! Reread them. Love speaks the truth!
Pray to Stand Firm!
May God raise up many “David’s” who will depend on God and not in themselves! With God’s help, will you stand up for Christ and the truth of His Word.
Father in heaven, I have been self-interested; wanting the approval of others rather than your favor. Out of fear and unbelief, I have surrendered to the enemies thinking and have not stood firm in your Word. Thank you that you hear my prayer and that you promise to help me when I ask for your help. Strengthen my faith and help me stand in the truth of your Word. Jesus is the Word, and it is in His name I pray, Amen.
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Bible studies
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Bible study for “Love Speaks the Truth“
Week 1: Genesis 2:21-24; Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Samuel 17:23-26, 34-37, 45-47; Psalms 15:1-2; 86:11; 119:1-2; Proverbs 8:13, 32-36; 21:2-4; Ecclesiastes 3:7; Isaiah 5:20; 41:13; 45:19; 59:12-1; 62:1
Week 2: 5; Jeremiah 9:3-6; 17:5-10; Daniel 12:3; Zechariah 8:16-17; Malachi 2:17; 3:6-7; Matthew 5:10-16; 12:36-37; 16:26-27; 19:4-6; 24:35; Luke 5:31-32; 12:8-9, 11-12
Week 3: John 3:19-21; 8:44; 15:18-27; 17:14-18; 18:37; Romans 1:18-32; 6:1-4; 10:14-15, 17; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 3:18-19; 10:31-33; 2 Corinthians 5:15, 20-21; Galatians 1:10; Ephesians 4:15-25; 5:8-21; 6:10-16
Week 4: Philippians 2:3-4, 14-16, 21; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8; 2 Timothy 1:7-9; 2:14-16, 23-26; 3:12, 16; 1 Peter 3:10-18; 4:11-19; 1 John 2:3-6, 15-17, 20-22; 4:4-6; 5:18-21
Very good use of Gods Word Suzanne
Thank you, Bart.
Encourage me to know that God will guide me and will give me wisdom when speaking the truth in love. In order to speak the truth of God; we need first to know the truth, His word. This study definitely helps on that purpose. Suzanne you are a great example of how to be a David!
Thank you, Miriam, for the reminder that we must continually rely and depend on God to do His will. May God help us to know and believe the truth for ourselves and then with God’s help make the most of every opportunity.
Thank you so much. Your study is excellent. We live in a culture where “Truth is the New Hate Speech.” We must be willing to speak God’s truth in love to the world.
Thank you, Edie, for taking the time to comment. You are absolutely right! I wrote the post with the Lord’s help to encourage Christians to stand firm and to stay faithful to God and to His Word. Knowing that you “get it” is an encouragement to me and I am sure to others who need to know that they are not alone.
I pray to be a David!
Such a timely message, thank you Suzanne. When a son comes home from college and turns his back on the Lord it is a fierce blow to the heart. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 reminds me not to quarrel but to be gentle in response. On my knees for His wisdom.
Oh Susan, I am so sorry! God of course knows and sees and He has given you a verse to hang on to. I will be praying that you stay connected to Him and not be blown off course. I am so grateful that God is able to make us stand when the strong winds of life blow hard.
Amen! Thanks for being unafraid to speak the truth and for your faithfulness to the Lord!
Thank you, Dennis. Let us continue to encourage one another in the body of Christ.