The Power of Unconditional Love
As Christians, we often struggle to embody the true essence of love. We may assume that projecting a loving image is equivalent to genuinely being a loving person. However, this superficial approach can lead to a shallow, noncommittal attitude towards others.
The Deception of an “Altar” Ego
We may perfect the art of acting like Christians, but our words and actions often belie a deeper lack of love. When we speak negatively about others behind their backs, it reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of Jesus’ teachings. As David prayed in Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”
The Heart of the Matter
Our words are a reflection of our meditations, and if we harbor unforgiveness or bitterness, it will manifest in our conversations. Jesus taught that “the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34). To fix our words, we must first fix our hearts. The Lord judges us for our words to purify our hearts, which are deceitful and prone to iniquity.
A Fresh Anointing
The Holy Spirit is purging the church from negative chatter, and a new anointing is at hand. God’s people will speak with the character necessary to represent Him. As Jeremiah 15:19 says, “If you return, then I will restore you — before Me you will stand; and if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman.”
The Quality of Our Words
God judges the quality of our entire lives by the soundness and substance of our words. Jesus warned, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). Our words have the power to justify or condemn us. James adds, “Judgment will be merciless to him who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
Character Counts
We often mask our critical attitude by calling it “discernment.” However, true love is not judging after the flesh. If we truly love an individual, we will be as loving in their absence as we are in their presence. Jesus said His disciples would be known by their love. Paul said that the love of Christ is supposed to control us, which means it is the nature and discipline of love that keeps us from joining in verbal attacks or even subtle criticisms.
A Child’s Eye-View of Love
Recently, I was reminded of a quote from a four-year-old boy named Billy, who said, “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” This simple yet profound definition of love highlights the importance of walking in Christ’s love. When we truly walk in love, those around us will be safe, and others will see the love of Christ that controls us.
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