not easy words
I don’t like conflict. Too often I try to avoid conflict, yet
relationships bring about the need to have real conversations of which some of
them are real tough with not easy words.
As you move through these conversations there are some things that God
would have us do to make sure they are productive, godly and serving others
well.
Instead,
we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the
head of his body, the church.
Speak the
truth in love
Make sure you conversation is literally “seasoned”
with love. Even tough words and concepts
must come from a heart of love for another person.
Let
the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and
counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Christ fill
your lives
Check the words, concepts and motivation you have and
use by filtering them with the Bible, God’s love letter and guidebook for our
lives. Our conversations are or ought to
be meant to build up, to bless and to encourage others in great ways. These conversations, those filtered with the
Bible, lead to thankfulness.
Let
us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good
works.
Motivate
one another to acts of love
Most conversations that are tough don’t leave people
wanting to feeling loved or to be loving.
But I remember some conversations I have had that made me feel
loved. I know people gifted at this
where they can almost slap you and you say thank you. That’s odd.
But when our motives are right and we are seeking to help others, great
things will come from these conversations.
And
so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers
and sisters, this is not right!
This is not
right
There are times that our words don’t match our
actions or our beliefs. We call these
people hypocrites, and all of us have been a hypocrite at some point in our
lives.
My wife and I drove through the parking at a local
fast food place last night where we saw 2 employees screaming at each other from
each side of the parking lot. They were
loud, they were young and both sounded like sailors, if you know what I
mean. We need to watch our words in big
ways.
Make sure that your conversations are building others
up, helping them and you be better people.
Even when it is a tough conversation with not easy words involved ask
God to make you an instrument of His grace as you follow His guidance.
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