John 13:34-35 KJV
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Have you ever noticed how sometimes Christians are the most cruel towards each other? It also happens in families, but when Jesus says that others will know that you follow Him because of the love you have towards one another then how does it make you feel when you see a brother or sister in Jesus Christ acting cruel towards one another? It grieves the Holy Spirit and it grieves the believer as well.
Fortunately for us, the Lord chastens those that are His. Reconciliation is possible, but sometimes it isn't convenient. It may take some humbling yourself before the Lord but seeing that the alternative leads to destruction, the practice of repenting from those type of acts and reconciling yourself with another brother is desirable.
Pride Knowledge and Giving Truth in Love Don't Mix
Proverbs 16:18 KJV
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Know-it-alls are confounded by God in their thinking.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3 KJV
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
Where is the love?
1 Peter 1:22 KJV
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 Corinthians 13:1 KJV
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Is the truth you speak first pure and then given in peace gently and also easy to be taken in full of mercy and good fruits and unbiased and not hypocritical? If not you may be speaking words that are not from God.
James 3:17 KJV
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Galatians 5:13-15 KJV
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Ultimately we want to exude the fruit of the Spirit which are many things good. We don't want to do the exact opposite because those things are of the devil.
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
If someone believes differently than you but they are a believer don't attack them. If they believe a lie then they will just continue to believe the lie. Instead pray that God will show them the truth and then let God open a door for you to lovingly speak with them. Do not try to usurp the job of the Holy Spirit. These things will rob you of your joy, love, peace, love, patience, gentleness and in general will lead to a weak example to the world of the one you follow.
If you are suffering with a critical spirit just seek God and He will deliver you from this. Praise be to Jesus!
Comments
Post a Comment