The truth is...

Truth is an interesting word. Partially because we're living in an age where truth is... slightly variable. Our culture is teaching us that it's not okay to speak the truth because it can be considered to be offensive to others. It's not so much that it's offensive, but it makes people see that their actions may be... wrong, and people do not like to think about the implications of their actions.

Now, there's a right way and a wrong way to tell the truth. You can yell at someone that refuses to change their ways screaming "You're going to hell!!!" at the top of your lungs. You can yell "That is a sin against God!!" all you want. All it will do is insight an argument.

Jesus had this way of simply telling people the truth. He didn't do it with a sense of arrogance. He simply stated a fact.

When this rich young man came to Jesus and asked Him what he needed to do to be saved, Jesus cut to the heart of the matter as only he could and told him to sell everything that he had, give it to the poor, and follow Jesus (Matt 19:20-22). He told the man the truth. Your trust will not be in me because you have a fall your riches to fall back on. If you want to follow me, then trust me. When faced with the truth, he had to decide what his next steps would be!

When Jesus met the woman at the well, Jesus asked the woman to get her husband. She replied that she didn't have a husband. Without judgement, Jesus said "you're right, you've had 5 husbands and the man you're living with now isn't your husband." (John 4:17-19)

The interesting thing is, Jesus didn't run up to people and start telling them truths. it happened naturally in the course of the conversation. Maybe we should take a lesson from that. Maybe, we should make ourselves available to those who are lost. Listen to their story, then as God's Holy Spirit convicts us, we should share the truth with them. Not in a judging or condescending way... but in a way that says "I understand, I struggle with sin too." Then... they may want to know how we deal with it... because the truth is - they need something to hope in.

I've met people that chase relationships because they think there's happiness in it... if they can only find the right person. The truth is, they are looking for love, and that unconditional love can only come from a loving heavenly Father.

I've met people who drink to lose their inhibitions in order to have fun. The truth is, they are trying to hide their sadness, and they are afraid of a love that can only come from being vulnerable.

I've met people that through themselves into their work. The truth is, that's the only place people will acknowledge them and appreciate that. They need to understand that they are accepted and being accepted, they can accept others.

Let's spend the week listening to others and telling the truth in love.