My daughter has a friend who is very angry at her because she agrees with God that his lifestyle is sin.

She has spoken truth, in a kind way to him, and he is very upset. If he only knew how much she cares for him and prays for God to guide her every word to him.

It would be easier for all of us to remain silent and avoid conflict with our culture that is so ready to cancel anyone who suggests sin, they call right, to be wrong.

Unless of course we read the God-breathed words of Second Timothy 2:24-26—

“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

We should not quarrel, but we can’t take this as a directive to say nothing.

Look at the verse above – We are to gently, patiently, in humility, correct those who are in opposition, so perhaps God will grant them repentance, so they will know the truth, and come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil and the captivity they are in, doing his evil will.

Though it is hard and uncomfortable, we are called to lovingly speak truth to those who are caught up in what God calls sin.

That’s NOT judging them.
That’s LOVING them.

Because if we believe what we say we believe about God, about Heaven, and about Hell, we can’t remain silent as those He has put in our path remain captive to the lies of the evil one.

Our goal is not to try to win some argument, but to share truth humbly as beggars telling other beggars where we found bread.

This is how we love others.

Will they receive it as such?
Maybe not.

They may even come up against us in anger, but we have to remember the words Paul wrote to the persecuted church of Ephesus as he sat in prison in Rome—

“12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Eph 6:12-20)

Let’s declare truth boldly because,
as we once were,
there are captives who need to be set free, and lost that need to be found!

readTimothy

livetheWord

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