Morning by Morning, November 16 - "Truth in Love" -- Both Truth and Love
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me hear Your voice and follow Your leading -- now and throughout the moments of my day (John 10:3). ...
"We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love" (Ephesians 4:14-16).
Speaking the truth in love -- not just truth, not just love, but the "truth in love." There's no true love apart from truth. And all that's really true will be grounded in love, for "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is Love" (1 John 4:8).
But Your true love is not the world's love. It's not some kind of watered-down love, dumbed-down to the lowest common denominator kind of love, or sit back and shut up and take it as it's being shoved down our throats kind of love. It's not some kind of stick your head in the sand, go along to get along without rocking the boat or risking offending someone by standing firm in what you believe to be right and true according to Your Word and our conviction of conscience kind of love. It's love that's grounded in truth. For just as much as You are Love, You are also Truth -- "the Way and the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6). And Your Spirit is "the Spirit of Truth" (John 16:13). For You are also "Light" and "in (You) there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5).
So part of growing up into Christ who is our Head is growing up "to maturity" of discerning what is "the truth in love" in every encounter we face, every crisis we go through, every challenge to our faith and opportunity to grow in Christ-likeness, "to the measure of the full stature of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). None of us can do that apart from You and Your Spirit abiding in us. We can't love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who persecute us unless You empower us with both the confidence of Your truth and the courage of Your love. We can't "expose" the darkness if we're ignoring or condoning the darkness (Ephesians 5:11). We desperately need You to form a right spirit in us, for "Apart from (You), we can do nothing" (John 15:5).
And we do praise You that we are not apart from You. We praise You that You are "with (us) always, to the end of the age" and every moment of this age of these tense and challenging days we're living through (Matthew 28:20). All will be revealed in truth -- all in Your time and all in Your way. "For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light" (Luke 8:17).
So as we long for Your truth to be revealed, may Your love be revealed in us -- Your true love. "By this all people will know that (we) are (Your) disciples" (John 13:35). As best as we can and all by Your grace, may we walk in the Light of Truth, speaking the Truth in Love, in both the confidence of Your Truth and the power of Your Love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My friend, may you be empowered by the Holy Spirit, deeply abiding in Christ, to walk in both the Light of Truth and the courage of Love, speaking the Truth in Love, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. I join with you with expectant faith and prayer for our nation and for our witness in the midst of these days! God bless you, my friend!
New Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:
Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257
Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries
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