Posted on 05/15/2016 5:54:09 PM PDT by metmom
The twelve apostles included "John" (Matt. 10:2).
Seek to maintain a proper balance between truth and love.
Some people picture John as overly sentimental and egotistical, lying with his head on Jesus' shoulder and constantly referring to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. But that's not an accurate characterization of one of the "Son of thunder"! He loved Jesus deeply and was amazed that Jesus loved him—especially after he wanted to burn up the Samaritans and then secure a prominent place for himself in Christ's kingdom. Calling himself "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (e.g., John 21:20) was simply his way of marvelling over God's grace in his life.
As much as he loved Jesus, John never allowed his love to deteriorate into mere sentimentalism. In fact, the proper balance between truth and love is the hallmark of his ministry. In his writings we find the word love more than eighty times and witness nearly seventy times. His profound love for Christ compelled him to be a teacher of love and a witness to the truth. To him, obedience to the truth was the highest expression of love. As 1 John 2:5 says, "Whoever keeps [God's] word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected."
John's greatest joy was to know that his spiritual children were walking in the truth (3 John 4). He firmly denounced anyone who attempted to divert them from that goal by denying or distorting God's Word.
Today, media talk shows and other influences have blurred the lines between opinion and truth. One man's opinion is purported to be as good as the next, and there's little talk about what's right or wrong.
Truth suffers even within the church because many Christians are willing to compromise it to avoid upsetting people. They forget that true love flourishes only in the atmosphere of biblical truth (Phil. 1:9).
Amid such confusion, God calls you to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). The world doesn't need another opinion—it needs God's absolute and authoritative Word!
Suggestions for Prayer
Thank God for the gift of His love and the power of His truth. Ask Him to make you a person of ever-increasing biblical integrity.
For Further Study
Read Revelation 2:1-7.
What strengths did the church at Ephesus have? What did it lack? What did Jesus require of it?
Studying God’s Word ping
Speaking the truth in love is one of the most dynamic principals in The Bible. I found amazing things happen when I dare tell the truth in love. Sometimes people will hate you at first, but later they just might come back and thank you. The Bible actually says that speaking the truth in love is the vehicle that The LORD uses to help us to grow up!
Ephesians 4:14 and 15
Sounds a lot like my story. I hated those guys at first, but thanked them later.
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” -Proverbs 27:5
The hard part is getting over the fear of how people are going to react.
No one likes to feel rejection or rejected and too many times that can stop someone from speaking up.
Another thing that doesn’t help is the speaking in love part.
Delivery when you tell someone the truth makes a big difference.
So true, of course.
Totally! The best thing is to try to have the Holy Spirit in what and how you are saying the truth. This is something that must be learned and what especially helps is when whatever the situation is about is prayed through before it is addressed.
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