Words Not Born Out of Love...
Have you every said something true,
But NOT in LOVE?
Have you ever corrected someone and been 100% correct,
But NOT in LOVE?
What does God have to say about that?
"Do everything in LOVE."
Wait...
What does this really mean?
God can't LITERALLY mean EVERYTHING, right?
Uhhh... yes He does.
God IS LOVE,
And anything that is NOT love is NOT God.
That can be a hard pill to swallow.
How does this work in real life?
Another way to put it is this...
If it's NOT love, DON'T say it.
For example...
If you have a really poingnant comment,
And it's NOT born out of love, but out of frustration,
DON'T say it.
If you really want to correct someone that's SO wrong,
And your words are NOT born out of love, but out of judgement,
DON'T say it.
If you see injustice, hypocrisy, gossip or slander and it burns your biscuits,
And your words are NOT born out of love, but out of vengeance and anger,
DON'T say it.
Even it you have the best of intentions,
Even if you're saving a life,
Even if you're defending the Bible,
If it's not BORN out of LOVE,
God is NOT reflected in it and do you know who is?
Satan.
It's really that simple.
It's back to good or evil,
Healing or hurting,
Encouraging or tearing down,
God or Satan.
So here's a few more examples...
"Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."
When we are EAGER to point out a wrong in others, it's NOT God.
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
If we have a laundry list of the wrong points about a person, it's NOT God.
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
When we are planning what to say to beat someone with your words, it's NOT God.
The more I get to know God's love,
The more I realize I'm far from it,
The more I realize I have a lot pride and judgment in my heart.
Even if someone is wrong and hypocritical,
God wants my leading emotion to be LOVE.
I should see the good parts of them FIRST,
I should have compassion for where they are coming from FIRST,
I should see them through God's eyes FIRST,
And I should CANCEL the list of wrongs they've done running in my mind,
Cuz that's what Jesus did.
If it's NOT love,
Then zip it.
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE."
So this week,
Ask Holy Spirit to make you more sensitive to the words you speak,
So that anything NOT loving feels wrong,
That you would get a big fat Holy Spirit gut check when you are unkind with your words.
This is what God wants,
So if you pray this prayer,
Get ready to be surprised. ^_^
"Dear Heavenly Father,
Help me become more sensitive to Your LOVE,
That when I have words born out of anger or frustration,
You would tap me and keep me quiet,
That when I have words born out of judgment,
You would help me hold my tongue.
Help me realize my words can cut and hurt,
Much more than I think they are.
Help me speak only words that are born out of LOVE,
So I can be more like You.
In Jesus name, Amen."
Cheers to transforming into God's image one word at a time.
God's got you! ^_^
Have a blessed day.
